Town Square Publications
Chamber Executive
Mississippi Digest
April, 2016
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Bill Hannah, EMBDC
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As far as East Mississippi
Business Development Corp. President/CEO Bill Hannah is concerned,
"potential" is a four-letter word.
Hannah said he believes
potential will carry communities only so far. The secret, he believes, is
ultimately building success off that potential.
Hannah, who took took over
as head of the EMBDC last May, said he believes in the region's future.
"I believe the future
in the region looks good," Hannah said. "In economic development, one
of the things that is not good is to be in a community that has perpetual
potential. When I first got here, I saw we've got all this potential, but we've
got to get past potential and realize some success. I think expectations of our
citizens and leadership is to realize a lot more success than we've had."
Hannah said Meridian and
Lauderdale County have all the ingredients in place for success.
"We're in a good area
that has not been well defined. We have all the attributes we need to be
successful," Hannah said. "We have to start with a regionalism
approach to take advantage of the relationships we have. That would be the
State MDA, the offices of the Gov. and Lt. Gov. and President Pro Tem of the
Senate and Speaker Pro Team of the House. We need those relationships in place
and we have them in place. We who live here know how good it is to live here.
We just have to package it." Read more: Meridian Star
Welcome
Home! Southaven Chamber to move from City Hall
After years of holding a
“corner office” inside the City Hall Municipal Building, the organization
representing the business community in the third-largest city in Mississippi
can finally say, “Welcome home!”
Southaven Chamber of
Commerce Executive Director Carmen Kyle announced Thursday morning the
non-profit organization promoting business in the city has purchased the old
Trustmark Bank building at 500 Stateline Road West, just east of I-55.
Plans are to vacate its
current spot inside City Hall and move into the new location by the end of May.
“I think it gives our
members a place to be proud of and to use because it’s going to be part of a business
center,” Kyle said about the new location. “It will be an iconic place and says
that, ‘We’re open for business.’”
A business center area
that members will be able to use for business-related activities is part of the
plans for the new building, in addition to offices, a conference room and patio
at a facility that is about 3,600 square feet in size.
Jim Brown of Brown
Properties of Southaven represented the Chamber in the transaction and Arthur
Malkin of Malkin Management & Investment Company represented the seller.
F&F Construction will handle the renovation work.
Purchase price was listed
as $357,000, Kyle said. Cash reserves the Chamber had saved over time is the
source of the funding for the purchase. Read more: De Soto Times
Chamber
partnership: New videos to feature Oxford
Several
new videos will soon be released that feature Oxford and all it has to offer
and will be available to use as marketing tools for the city, local businesses
and developers.
Seven
videos were produced by Joe York with the University of Mississippi Center for
the Study of Southern Culture as a joint project between
Visit
Oxford, the Oxford and Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic
Development Foundation.
Visit
Oxford director Mary Allyn Hedges presented the videos to the Oxford Tourism
Council Wednesday during its regular monthly meeting.
Each
video is about two to three minutes long. There is one Oxford overall video
that highlights much of what makes Oxford special. The other six videos all
focus on one particular aspect of the community, including health care,
business and industry, arts and culture, education, retirement and newcomers,
and parks and recreation.
The
videos feature local business people, government officials and local residents
who give brief comments as to what makes Oxford a place people should want to
visit or call home. - See more at: Oxford Eagle
#BestChamber Practices: (Leadership) Mississippi Gulf Coast
Chamber program: Leadership Gulf Coast Applications Now Available
Leadership Gulf Coast (LGC), a program of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc., has announced that applications for the incoming 2016-2017 class are now available.
Leadership Gulf Coast is a program designed to prepare the area’s current and potential leaders for the future. The goal is to create a communication network among present and emerging leaders dedicated to the improvement of the Mississippi Gulf Coast through understanding real issues and opportunities within our community. The program began in 1990 and has graduated nearly 900 leaders.
“This year, Leadership Gulf Coast will celebrate 25 years of nurturing leaders through a series of educational sessions that work to enhance one’s leadership skills and knowledge,” said Angie Juzang, chair of the 2016-2017 Leadership Gulf Coast Board of Trustees. “25 years in existence is a testimony to the success of the participants and organizers of the program. I am proud to be a graduate because it has been an invaluable part of my personal and professional development. If you think you know everything there is to know about coast life, think again. Having access to speakers and resources one otherwise would not have access to is irreplaceable. I look forward to meeting this year’s class and celebrating their successes.”
Applications can be downloaded from www.mscoastchamber.com under the “Leadership Gulf Coast” tab. To be considered for next year’s class, the application must be received by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc. office no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 6.
For additional information regarding LGC, contact LGC Liaison, Olivia Munn at 228-604-0014 or olivia@mscoastchamber.com. More information about LGC is available at www.mscoastchamber.com.
Leadership Gulf Coast (LGC), a program of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc., has announced that applications for the incoming 2016-2017 class are now available.
Leadership Gulf Coast is a program designed to prepare the area’s current and potential leaders for the future. The goal is to create a communication network among present and emerging leaders dedicated to the improvement of the Mississippi Gulf Coast through understanding real issues and opportunities within our community. The program began in 1990 and has graduated nearly 900 leaders.
“This year, Leadership Gulf Coast will celebrate 25 years of nurturing leaders through a series of educational sessions that work to enhance one’s leadership skills and knowledge,” said Angie Juzang, chair of the 2016-2017 Leadership Gulf Coast Board of Trustees. “25 years in existence is a testimony to the success of the participants and organizers of the program. I am proud to be a graduate because it has been an invaluable part of my personal and professional development. If you think you know everything there is to know about coast life, think again. Having access to speakers and resources one otherwise would not have access to is irreplaceable. I look forward to meeting this year’s class and celebrating their successes.”
Applications can be downloaded from www.mscoastchamber.com under the “Leadership Gulf Coast” tab. To be considered for next year’s class, the application must be received by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc. office no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 6.
For additional information regarding LGC, contact LGC Liaison, Olivia Munn at 228-604-0014 or olivia@mscoastchamber.com. More information about LGC is available at www.mscoastchamber.com.
Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber
event: Mississippi helping entrepreneurs, retirees
Mississippi is aspiring to become a place where entrepreneurs, retirees and communities can flourish.
Three representatives for the Mississippi Development Authority spoke at the monthly Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday at the Vicksburg Convention Center.
Deputy director of the asset development team Sonny Thomas described the work MDA does through its 17 divisions and what their objectives are for the state.
He said Glenn McCullough, executive director of the MDA, has a goal to outperform Mississippi’s neighboring states on a smaller budget.
“We get more bang for our buck,” Thomas said. “Their budget is almost double ours, but we are able to get out and do it. We’ve done it with a reduced workforce.”
The asset development team has worked to map Vicksburg’s assets as well as other communities in the state. The team’s newest mission is to develop an ambassador program working with local communities through Entergy, Tennessee Valley Authority and Mississippi Power.
- See more at:Vicksburg Post
Grammy
Museum Mississippi: Chamber projects 20 million dollar impact: Cleveland moving
from hospitality to hosting
Cleveland will be turning a page in its
hospitality handbook to a chapter titled hosting.
The
Grammy Museum Mississippi, which opened its doors on Saturday, is expected to
attract 30,000 visitors in the first year.
That
figure, adapted from a study on the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, projected a
direct and indirect impact of up to $20 million a year on the community,
according to Judson Thigpen, executive director of-/ the Cleveland Chamber of
Commerce.
The
Grammy Museum has a broader interest than the King museum, which, of course,
has solely a blues focus, whereas the new Cleveland museum addresses more
genres, Thigpen noted.
For
example, the Beatles exhibit and symposium will be open to the public
April 1-2, he said.
Meantime,
“we’ve formed alliances, and we’ll be forming more alliances,” he said. “We’ve
been in touch with the Elvis Presley people, so we can do some
cross-marketing.” Read more: Mississippi Business
Chamber Chuckle - Wacky Wednesday Weirdest Chamber Requests
Are there alligators under the cars there? (from a Wisconsin chamber)
Are there alligators under the cars there? (from a Wisconsin chamber)
Meridian Main Street to be moved
to EMBDC
Meridian
Main Street and its programs will be absorbed into the East Mississippi
Business Development Corp. at the end of the month, according to Ron Harper,
President of the Board of Directors for Meridian Main Street.
The news means Meridian Main Street Executive Director Karen Rooney will
be out of a job.
"We think this is a positive thing for Main Street and the city of
Meridian," Harper said Wednesday.
"It will give Main Street some resources that it might not have had
before. And the move will make it stronger financially,” he said. “With all the
financial cuts taking place, we think Main Street being a stand alone was not a
good scenario. We put our heads together and think this will be a great move
for us. It is an award-winning organization, funded partly by the city, which
promotes downtown Meridian and its businesses.”
According to a press release, the city of Meridian will provide
additional support for Meridian Main Street events, such as the Earth’s Bounty
Farmer’s Market, which starts its 2016 season on April 2.
Earth’s Bounty will take place on the city hall lawn during April and
Singing Brakeman Park on the first Saturday of May through November.
Other events have included Meridian Mardi Gras, the Downtown After 5
Alive series of free outdoor concerts and the Christmas Parade. Read
more: Meridian
Star
#FamousChamber of
Commerce Quotation: Reinvent The Member Experience
Reinvent Your
Guest Experience - “Someone will always find a way to do what you
do for less expense. But people will pay more for an exceptional experience with
you.” - Clark Howard
Nominations for Coast Young Professionals'
Forever Young Awards Are Now Open
Mississippi Gulf Coast- Coast
Young Professionals (CYP) are pleased to announce nominations are now being
accepted for the “Forever Young” Awards. These awards are to be presented
during the Coast Young Professionals’ 8th Annual Black Tie
& Blue Jeans Gala, sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Biloxi. To
nominate, visit www.coastyoungprofessionals.com and
click on the Black Tie & Blue Jeans Gala tab. The deadline to submit
nominations is Tuesday, May 10, 2016.
The Black Tie and Blue Jeans Gala is an annual event that
honors 10 accomplished and influential leaders of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
with the “Forever Young” award. Forever Young candidates are persons of
professional integrity who exemplify the spirit of service to their professions
and who have, by their leadership, made a significant contribution to the
advancement of a Coast Young Professionals member's career. Mentoring and
developing young leaders along the Mississippi Gulf Coast is a huge part of
Coast Young Professionals mission. At this annual gala, it is the
organization’s honor to recognize and thank these individuals who devote their
time to mentor members of Coast Young Professionals.
The event will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Biloxi on Wednesday, June 15th and hor d’oeuvres, photo
station, and music are included in the price of admission. A cash bar and
caricatures are available during the program. Tickets and sponsorships are
available. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 7:30
p.m. Admission is $40 per person. For more information on sponsorships or to
purchase tickets, contact CYP Director, Olivia Munn, at 228-604-0014 or
email cyp@mscoastchamber.com.
Coast Young Professionals is a division of the Mississippi
Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce committed to developing leaders on the
Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Biloxi Bay Chamber
event: Cruise into history returns in Biloxi on the Clipper
The Biloxi
History Cruise returns May 14 on a sunset dinner voyage aboard the historic Pan
American Clipper.
Eighty
passengers will board at 4:30 p.m. at the Point Cadet Marina behind Golden
Nugget Casino Biloxi.
After the
ship departs at 5 p.m., a shrimp pasta dinner will be served along with beer,
wine and other beverages.
The
entertainment on this cruise is provided by seven speakers sharing stories of
Biloxi history.
Capt. Louis
Skrmetta will tell about The Pan American Clipper and Susan Hunt will recall
the Isle of Caprice off the coast of Biloxi. Kevin O'Brien will re-create the
character who was G.E. Ohr. Robert "Bones" Barq will share his
memories and the story of Barq's, Biloxi's most-famous drink. Bill Raymond,
Biloxi's historical administrator, will tell tales of the Biloxi Lighthouse and
Kenneth Dodd will look back on the 75th anniversary of Keesler Air Force Base.
Alvin Baker will recall life on Deer Island.
The cruise
is presented by the Culture & Heritage Committee of the Biloxi Bay Chamber
and all proceeds will support projects of the committee. The group has raised
money to install a marker on the previously unmarked grave of the Hermit of
Deer Island; replanted the "12 Palms" that honored Biloxians who died
in World War I; and organized an exhibit and concert as a tribute to Biloxi's
Clarence Harder and his One Man Band. Read more: Sun Herald
Gulfport Chamber of Commerce Announces Small Business Grant
Applications Available now
GULFPORT – The Gulfport Chamber of Commerce announced this week
that applications for the Small Business Grant Program are now available.
Grants ranging from $250 up to $1,000 will be awarded to selected businesses in
Gulfport who meet the specified criteria, and provide adequate documentation
supporting their grant request.
The application must be received at the Gulfport Chamber of
Commerce office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 10. Any
applications received after the due date will not be considered, including
those received in the mail. Completed applications may be faxed to
228-604-0105 or dropped off in person/mailed to: 11975E Seaway Road, Gulfport,
MS 39503.
The guidelines and application can be found on the Gulfport
Chamber of Commerce page on www.mscoastchamber.com. For any additional
questions, please contact Emily Pickering at 228-604-0014 or
Emily@mscoastchamber.com.
Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce kicks off annual youth
Junior Leadership program
A select group of sophomores from area high schools have been
active this spring volunteering their time with Lafayette County Literacy
Council, Lovepacks, and assisting in the coordination of a blood drive as part
of their involvement in the 2016 Junior Leadership class, a program sponsored
by the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce.
“The program attempts to identify young leaders in the Oxford and Lafayette County schools, as well as home schooled and local private schools,” said Pam Swain, senior vice president of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and program administrator. “Through the program, efforts are made to motivate them and assist them in sharpening their leadership skills, in the hope that they will exert a strong, positive influence on the future of Oxford and Lafayette County.”
The Junior Leadership Program is sponsored for the second consecutive year by a local business with multiple locations all over the county, Your Extra Closet, owned by successful business leader and entrepreneur Floyd Hubbell. See more at: The Local Voice
Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber
Meeting gives residents chance to include Vicksburg on tourism map
Vicksburg
and Warren County residents have the opportunity Tuesday to put the area on the
map, literally.
Officials
with National Geographic and the Mississippi River Connections Collaborative
will be at the Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce offices, 2020 Mission 66,
for a 10 a.m. meeting to discuss putting the area on an interactive tourism
website, www.mississippi.natgeotourism.com, featuring a map of the Mississippi
being developed by National Geographic that goes from the river’s headwaters in
Minnesota to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico.
Tuesday’s
meeting will allow people in the tourism business and residents to discuss the
area’s unique culture, attractions, landmarks and activities to be included on
the map. Potential visitors will be able to go to the website, call up the map,
click on a specific location and see a photo of an attraction, like the
Vicksburg National Military Park, Beulah Cemetery or another site.
“We
need to get the word out to the people in the community, chamber members and
non-members (to attend the meeting) so we can be on the map,” chamber executive
director Jane Flowers said. “I’m always about putting Vicksburg on the map.”
Kathleen
Bond, superintendent of the Natchez Historical National Park said the new map
will be more detailed than the present one on the website.
“They’re
(National Geographic) building it now,” she said. “This is going to be the last
stakeholder meeting before they go to final production, and this summer there
will be more meetings where they will roll out the final product.”
The
attractions included on the map “have to local and authentic. It can’t be a
chain and it really has to benefit that local homegrown economy. I grew up in
Vicksburg, so this is a project that is near and dear to my heart.”
Chamber event: Tickets available
for Taste of Ocean Springs
The Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce -- Main Street -- Tourism
Bureau has tickets for the annual Taste of Ocean Springs Food & Wine
Festival on May 12.
The festival showcases Ocean Springs restaurants and will be held
under the oaks at the L&N Depot Plaza downtown.
Participating restaurants will provide samples of their best food,
and music will be provided by Caution Swing Bridge. Tickets are $50 per person,
while supplies last and available at the chamber office, 1000 Washington Ave.
Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber
to host legislative breakfast
The Brookhaven Lincoln
County Chamber of Commerce will provide its members with a unique opportunity
to interact will local legislators Monday. The Chamber will host a legislative
breakfast at Mitchell’s at 7:30 a.m. Monday.
Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director Garrick Combs said the breakfast is one of the benefits of
becoming a member of the Chamber. Sen. Sally Doty and Reps. Becky Currie and
Vince Mangold will attend the breakfast to address any questions Chamber
members might have about legislation.
“The breakfast gives Chamber
members the opportunity to spend time addressing whatever legislative issues
they are concerned about,” Combs said. “We are just providing a nice, orderly venue
to ask lawmakers those questions.” Combs said Chamber members will have the
opportunity to write down questions and pass them to a moderator, who will then
address the legislators. Read more: The Daily Leader
Top Five Daily Postings in the last month at Midwest Chamber of Commerce
blog – click to go there or Google search “Midwest Chamber of Commerce blog”
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Last Month’s Stories
Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Announces
Total Resource Campaign --- Contact: Debi Green, Executive Director of
Membership
Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber Celebrates 28
Years of Leadership, Announces 2016 Class www.oxfordms.com
Chamber interest: Lauderdale
County looking for right fit in administrator Meridian
Star
#BestChamber
practices: East Mississippi Business Development Corporation (EMBDC) Recognizes
February Ambassadors of the Month - More information: Casey Holladay, Events
Coordinator, East Mississippi Business Development Corporation
Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce
Ambassadors Program enters 5th year, Membership at highest support ever www.oxfordms.com .
Friday: 157 Rules for
Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by
Patrick McGaughey - Rule
#84 If we can't afford a planning session, the last one failed. Chamber Mentor
New
Arrival: New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Map - The New
Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Map is
available at the New Castle-Henry County Chamber today! Thanks
to Missy Modesitt, Mary Campbell and the chamber team for
their help and direction putting this together!
Mississippi public
universities partner with business groups to launch MBEN Mississippi Business Journal
Oxford-Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Lunch
and Learn Series: Chick-fil-A Vice President, Corporate Talent speaks to
Oxford-Lafayette Chamber members http://www.deeannturner.com/its-my-pleasure/.
EMBDC Awards: Students Make It to Head of the Class WTOK
If you would like delivery
of a new gloss Chamber directory or gloss community map in September/October 2016, please contact me at
your earliest convenience.
John
John Dussman | Chamber Manager
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media Group
155 E. Algonquin Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media Group
155 E. Algonquin Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Do you have a story
idea?
If you know of a chamber news item that you would like to be included in the CHAMBER EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT or the MIDWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE blog, please email me at jdussman@tspubs.com or call me at (847)-427-4633. Thank you.
If you know of a chamber news item that you would like to be included in the CHAMBER EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT or the MIDWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE blog, please email me at jdussman@tspubs.com or call me at (847)-427-4633. Thank you.
