CHAMBER CONNECTION MEMBERSHIP In October 2011, over 200 volunteers gathered together to work for two and half days for The Chamber’s 2011 Rock The Chamber Membership Event. The volunteers worked against the clock and each other to help sign up new Chamber members and create a greater community awareness of the important role of the chamber of commerce. During the event, Kyle Spurgeon, President/CEO of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, members of The Chamber’s Execuve Commiee and volunteers donned rock and roll costumes to get in the spirit of the “Rock The Chamber” theme. Aſter days of phone calls and visits to Jackson businesses, the volunteers recruited a total of 291 new members, exceeding the goal of 253 new members. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Along with the growth of The Chamber’s membership base, The Chamber also announced two Jackson industrial expansions in 2011. In June, automove supplier US Farathane announced that it would invest $4 million and add 50 local jobs as a result of its Jackson plant expansion. The 166,000 square foot facility was at full operaon in 2006. The plant was inially expected to employ approximately 130 associates, but has seen connued growth over the years. US Farathane has five U.S. manufacturing plants, employs 500 naonally and has been supplying the automove market for more than 30 years. Jackson Die Casng, LLC, a high-pressure aluminum die casng company owned by Dallas-based Key 3 Casng, LLC, announced in December a planned expansion to its Jackson manufacturing facility. The company, formed in 2009, represents an investment of almost $4.5 million and also has operaons in Minneapolis and Hibbing, Minn. Its Jackson facility expansion plans to create 58 new jobs in the Jackson area over the next three years. FORWARD JACKSON With the new year, The Chamber is looking forward to connuing the Forward Jackson Campaign. In January 2011, The Chamber launched the five-year economic development campaign. With the help of Naonal Community Development Services (NCDS), The Chamber reached out to several local business leaders to invest in the campaign. The inial goal of the campaign was to raise $3.8 million, where the funds would be used to create at least 3,000 jobs, improve workforce development, strengthen the community’s foundaon and to help aract, retain and expand businesses in West Tennessee. The inial goal of $3.8 million was reached in September 2011. The funds commied represented pledges from 82 Chamber members and other businesses and organizaons within Madison County. Upon reaching the inial campaign goal, The Chamber has set an addional “stretch goal” of $500,000. The campaign connues to address issues such as the Jackson-Madison County School System strategic plan, superintendent search, Madison Achieves scholarship program, community wellness, public safety, branding and regional economic development. Chamber Reflects on 2011 and Looks Forward to 2012 INSIDE: • Upcoming Events, Staff Directory Page 2 • Promoons, Accomplishments & Special Recognion Page 4 - 5 • New Members Page 7 • Renewing Members Page 8 • Ribbon Cungs & Openings Page 9 - 10 • Economic Indicators Page 11 JANUARY 2012 VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.JACKSONTN.COM • Member Spotlight Page 6 • Front page story connued Page 3 With the passing of another year, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce is proud of the previous year’s accomplishments, and is excited with the ancipaon of what is to come in 2012. STORY CONTINUED “Chamber Reflects” cover story connued on page 3...
Chamber Reflects on 2011 and Looks Forward to 2012
INSIDE:• Upcoming Events, Staff
DirectoryPage2
• Promotions, Accomplishments & Special RecognitionPage4-5
• New MembersPage7
• Renewing MembersPage8
• Ribbon Cuttings & OpeningsPage9-10
• Economic IndicatorsPage11
JANUARY 2012
VISIT US ONLINE ATWWW.JACKSONTN.COM
• Member SpotlightPage6
• Front page story continuedPage3
With the passing of another year, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce is proud of the previous year’s accomplishments, and is excited with the anticipation of what is to come in 2012.
STORY CONTINUED “Chamber Reflects” cover story continued on page 3...
By Ron Acree & Joel Newman, TSBDCIDENTIFYING THE MAJOR TIME WASTERS IN BUSINESS
Youcanbecomemoresuccessfulinyourbusinessifyoulearntoidentify,andcorrect,thesemajor‘TimeWasters’:• Telephone Interruptions.Thisitemtopsthelist.Whenthetelephone/cellphoneringsandbreaksyourtrainofthought,itinterruptsyouanddistractsyoufromwhatyouaredoing.Whenyouhangup,youarealsodistractedandfindithardtogetbacktowork.• Unexpected Visitors.Unexpectedordrop-invisitorscanbeextremelytimeconsuming.Thesecanbeemployeeswithinyourcompanyorvisitorsfromtheoutside.Whenthey‘dropin’,yourworkisdisrupted,yourtrainofthoughtisbrokenandyoureffectivenessisimpaired.Sometimetheytalkendlesslyaboutthingsthatareunimportantandkeepyoufromyourduties.• Meetings.Plannedandunplannedmeetingsconsumeapproximately40percentofyourtime.Theycanbeformalorinformal,withgroupsorone-on-one,inanotherstaffmember’soffice,conferenceroomoryouroffice.Manyoftheseareunnecessaryandareawasteoftime.• Fire Fighting and Emergencies.Amajortimewasteris‘puttingoutfires’andhandlingemergencies,leadingtoinevitablecrisis.Justasyouget‘settledin’onaproject,somethinghappensthattakesyouawayfromyourobjectiveanddisruptsyouforalongperiodoftime.• Procrastination.Thisisthethiefoftime.Thetendencytoprocrastinateisuniversalformanyreasons.• Socializing and Idle Conversation.This‘TimeWaster’,isoneofthemajorculpritsandprevioussurveyshaveestimatedthatasmuchas75percentoftimeatworkisspentinteractingwithotherstaffthatisnotworkrelated.Muchofthisis,bysurveyresults,idlechatterthatdoesnothingtoproducepositiveworkresults.• Indecision and Delay.Indecisioncostsmoretimethanmostpeoplerealize.Itcangenerateunnecessarypaperwork,correspondenceandtasks,whilewastingyourtimeandthatofyourstaff.
USEFUL TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS/MANAGERS
THE CHAMBERjacksontn.com4
GOOD NEWS JACKSONTheUniversityofMemphisassumedcon-trolofwhatwasformerlyLambuthUniversityinDecember2011withtheofficialrecordingofthedeed.TransferofthepropertywasmadefromtheLambuthUniversityBoardofDirec-torstotheStateofTennessee,forthebenefitoftheUniversityofMemphis.“ThisisamonumentaldaynotonlyfortheUniversityofMemphis,butalsoforthecitizensofJacksonandWestTennessee,”saidShirleyRaines,presidentoftheUniver-sityofMemphis.TheCityofJackson,MadisonCountyGovernment,WestTennesseeHealthcare,andtheJacksonEnergyAuthorityeachcontributed$2milliontopurchasethecampusandthenturnitovertotheStateofTennessee,forusebytheUniversityofMemphis.WiththeassistanceofGovernorBillHaslam,thestatelegislatureagreedtoallocatestatefundingforoperatingcostsoncethetransferofpropertyiscomplete.Anofficialflag-raisingceremonywasheldattheLambuthcampusJanuary12.TheUniversityofMemphisatLambuthopenedforclassesthisfallwithmorethan300students.Registrationiscurrentlyunderwayforthespringsemester.
TOP AMBASSADORSCongratulations to the Ambassadors with perfect attendance: DessieHardee,IsagenixHealth&WellnessNorwoodJones,OldCountryLandOfficeHeathWilliams,GeorgeA.Smith&Sons
Chamber Emissaries Volunteer Group Selects New ChairpersonDrewYates,financialcentermanagerofFirstBank,hasbeenselectedasthe2012chairpersonfortheEmissaries.Yateshasvolun-teeredforChamberfunctionsthepastfouryears.Inthepasttwoyears,hehasvolunteeredhistimewiththeEmissaries,theJackson-MadisonCountySchoolSystemstrategicplaninitiativeandthe2011RockTheChamberMembershipEvent.“Itisdefinitelyanhonortobethechairpersonofsuchagreatgroupofpeople,”Yatessaid.“Itisaprivilege,andwehaveagreattimeworkingtogether.Weeat,laugh,jokeandworkhard.ThisgroupofEmissariesneverbacksdownfromthechancetohelpnewandexistingmembersbeactiveinthecommunity,whetherthroughTheChamberorvariousotheropportunities.”TheEmissariescontactmemberstodeveloprelationshipswithinTheChamber.TheChamberalsohasothervolunteergroups,includingtheAmbassadors,alsoknownasthe“RedCoats.”“MyfavoritepartaboutvolunteeringforTheChamberishavingtheopportunitytobuildrelationshipsthatgobeyondjustahelloandahandshake,”Yatessaid.“WitheachpersonImeet,thereissomeoneelseontheotherendwhowantsourcommunitytosucceed,especiallyiftheyareabusinessowner.IappreciatetheChamberofferingavenuestofacilitatethoseopportunitiesthroughitsmanybusinessnetworkingfunctions.Theyarealsoopportunitiesforanyonetopluginandmakeadifference.Iamgladthatmy
PROMOTIONS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS & SPECIAL RECOGNITITONS
THE CHAMBERjacksontn.com5CONTACT US Sendusyourmembernewsandphotos:[email protected]
MEMBER SPOTLIGHTATA Technologies, LLC
Chamber Connection: What’s new with your organization? ATAT:Weareworkingwithseveralofourclientstoimplementcloudenvironments.CloudComputingisanITHotTopicrightnow.Wehavebeenfindingandimplementingpubliccloudsolutions,privatecloudsolutions,commu-nitycloudsolutions,aswellashybridsolutionsforourclients.WearealsohelpingourclientstoconverttheirofficetoanallMacenvironment,whichcanhavesomebenefitsoveraPCenvironment.WeareveryproudthatSeniorManagerDanielSimonsjustcompletedhisMasterofScienceinInformationAssurancewitha4.0GPA.
Chamber Connection: What’s the biggest community project you’re working on right now? ATAT:AspartoftheATATfamily,wesupporttheRelayforLifeactivitiesinMadisonCounty.Individually,theATATstaffisinvolvedinseveralcommunityorganizationsincludingYouthTown,ExchangeClub,TheCancerResearchInstituteofWestTennesseeandourchurches.
Chamber Connection: What’s helped your organization become successful in our community? ATAT: Hardworkandamissiontofocusonourclients’ITenvironments,sothattheycanfocusontheirbusiness-es.WearededicatedtostayingaheadofITtrendsthrougheducation,professionalassociationsandcustomerfeedback.Chamber Connection: What does your organization do that most people don’t know about? ATAT:WeprovideITauditingservicessuchasSSAE16auditing,PenetrationTestingandVulnerabilityassess-mentsforlargeorganizations.Theseservicesrequireourteamtohaveahigh-endITsecurityknowledgebaseaswellascertifications.Oursecurityexpertisehelpsallofourclientsknowthatweareabletoprovidethebestsecuritysolutionstomeettheirneeds.Chamber Connection: What are some recent successes your organization has experienced? ATAT: Wehavejustcompletedaprojecttoconvertoneofourclientstoanewandimprovedvirtualizedenviron-ment.VirtualizingyourITinfrastructureletsyoureduceITcostswhileincreasingtheefficiency,utilizationandflexibilityofyourexistingassets.Chamber Connection: What challenges does your organization face? ATAT: ITconsultingfirmsarefacedwiththeheightenedcompetitionfrombigcompanieslikeIBMandDell,whichareeagertonowprovideconsultingservicesaswellashardware.Additionally,duringourtimeofeconomicconcerns,businessesequatetechnologyconsultingandsolutionstoabudgetnightmarethinkingthatitisjusttooexpensive!Thatisnotthecase.WeatATATcanhelpyoufindtechnologysolutionsthatwillassistyouinimprovingofficeproductivity,gainingatech-nologicaledgeonyou’reyourcompetitorsandreducingdowntime,whichinturnwillincreaseyourbottomline.ATATalsoprovidesManagedServicepricingplans,whichisaflatfee,tohelpyouwithyourbudgetplanning.
Chamber Connection: Are there any things we didn’t ask that you would like to share? ATAT: TheITfieldisconstantlychanging.IfyouwantanITpartnerwhowilltakethatoffyourplate,soyoucanfocusongrowingyourbusiness,callus.Also,weknowsomegreataccountantswhocanhelpwithyourtax,bookkeeping,payrollandauditneeds.
MichaelLaffoonPartner,ATAT
Company name: ATATechnologies,LLC(ATAT)Address:231OilWellRoad,SuiteCEstablished:ATATechnologies,LLCwasfoundedin2004asTrinitySolutions,LLC.In2007,ATATmergedwithAlexanderThompsonArnoldCPAstoformastrongpartnership.Theirmissionistodelivertechnologyservices,sotheirclientscanfocusontheirbusinesses.Number of Employees: 5Top Services/About your company: Theytakeafull-circleapproachtomanagingInformationTechnologyneedsforlocalbusinesses.Nomattertheindustry,whetheritisBanking,ProfessionalServices,Manufacturing,orretail,ATAThastheexpertisetoprovideallyourITsolutions.Becauseoftheirapproachanddedicationtotheirclients,ATATechnologies,LLCreceivedthe2006EmergingBusinessAwardfromtheJacksonAreaChamberofCommerce.ATATechisalsorecognizedasaDellpartner,FortinetPartnerandaMicrosoftCertifiedPartner.Web site: www.atacpatech.netPhone Number: (731)664-0102
State Farm Agency Field Leadership OfficeJoeWhite162MurrayGuardDr.,Ste.CJackson,TN38305(731)664-4590Category:Insurance
The Convenience Store DowntownSarahClayborne116E.BaltimoreSt.Jackson,TN38301(731)256-4040Category:ConvenienceStores
University of Tennessee Extension-Madison County AmyHastingsElizer309N.ParkwayJackson,TN38305(731)668-8543www.utextension.tennessee.edu/madisonCategory:EducationServices
GET INVOLVED! TheAmbassadors(RedCoats)areacceptingapplicationsnowforadditionalvolunteersforthe2012year.TheAmbassadorsserveasthegoodwillarmofTheChamber.Theyattendribbon
