The Scoop

Making a Change

2011-12-19T10:27:00.000-06:00

Dear Members and Friends of the Cool Springs Chamber,

In the two plus years I've presided over the Chamber we have grown in image, in reputation and in numbers, even in a tough competitive market and a depressed economic climate. And it is only with the help of many volunteers and one special co-worker that I've been successful. That one special person is Michele Smith, the most extraordinary personality I've had the pleasure to call my colleague. Always solution-oriented, efficiency-minded, strong-willed but gentle and kind, Michele has taken care of me by making sure I showed up where I was supposed to show up when I was supposed to show up, with the materials in my hand that I would need. She has looked for what needed to be done and has done it, unselfishly. My gratitude to her is surpassed only by my respect for her.

The Chambers are in the process of unification now, and a lot of work is being done to fund the project, to staff the new Chamber and to plan the programming that will launch us into the future. It's an exciting time for everyone in business in Williamson County. I firmly believe that there is power in collaboration, in community, in partnership, in cohesiveness, in well....love. My prayer is that those involved will put 'self' aside and truly think of what is best for the whole. Because friends, there is only one. When one tries to separate from the whole, he/she stands in his/her own way. By letting go, we receive. By trusting that what is ahead is God-ordained, we allow abundance to come our way. Anything else is salmon-like...yes, a struggling swim upstream.

Three weeks ago, Tim Rice, CEO of Symbiotix, Inc., a former manager of mine at Genentech, Inc. (in 1994), sought me out via LinkedIn to see if I'd be interested in a job with his company. Tim and his wife Jo Ann, a Clinical PharmD started Symbiotix in 1998.

I've been asked to go back to a field with which I'm very familiar and in which I've been very successful. As you know I came from a 20-year career in Biotech and Pharmaceutical Sales, Sales Management, Sales Training and Brand Management. This offer is one I cannot financially refuse and the the timing is perfect in every way. I will remain in Franklin, TN working out of my home office, and will travel the U.S. as Director of Business Development for Symbiotix, Inc, a medical education company. I have resigned as President of the Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce effective 12/30. My new job starts on Monday, Jan 2, 2012.

The Executive Committee of Board of Directors of the Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce, met Thursday December 15th, and is already making plans to fill the gap in staff left by my move and will continue all activities of the Chamber throughout the transition period as we move to a Unified Williamson County Chamber.

It is important to emphasize that this move is unrelated to the unification. I am excited for my future and for the future of the Chamber(s). I am most grateful for the support and encouragement I've received from many of you since moving to Franklin unemployed over four years ago.

My resignation is set for Dec 30th. With the holidays close at hand, there is really not much work time left. But I will back for the January 10th Membership Meeting and look forward to seeing everyone there.

This community means so very much to me as do each and every Member, Board Member, Ambassador and of course, MIchele. I remain your advocate and your friend. Nothing will change that.

All the best to the new 1W1C, Williamson County Chamber, and to all of its membership, sponsors and investors.

Sincerely,

Marti Veto

Ramon Presson: Guest Author on Regionalism

2011-10-18T08:22:00.000-05:00

My friend Ramon Presson, Author and Counselor always tells it like it is. For those of you who attended the Mayoral Summit last Thursday and thought it "The Best Ever", I'd like to suggest that credit goes to Ramon for the power of his intense community-minded invocation. The harmony in the room came from a higher power. And we made the most of it, shameless opportunists that we are...in a Good Way, of course!
Ramon's reflections of the day are the perfect guest post for the Cool Springs Scoop.
Regionalism: Together We’re Better

Men would have never come up with the concept of regionalism unless they understood it as my region is better than your region. By nature men are territorial. In the animal kingdom males urinate a property line to form something of a wall or invisible electric fence that warns other males that this hunting and mating plot is not a tourist destination. There is an implied No Trespassing sign on the gate and intruders will be chased, head-butted, clawed, gored, bitten, or all the above.

The human male is more refined and sophisticated. Men urinate on their car bumpers. If you don’t believe me watch how we men react when someone, especially another man, is crowding the chrome fence of our Honda Accord. Women don’t seem to understand this need for spacing. A female driver seeing the nose of the car behind her almost in her Camry’s back seat thinks, “Oh, they must want to be friends.”

It is the territorial instincts and competitive nature of the male species that makes the growing spirit of regionalism in middle Tennessee all the more remarkable and admirable. I recently attended and gave the invocation at the Mayoral Summit sponsored by the Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, and the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce. The summit featured a panel of the city mayors of Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, and the county mayor of Williamson who fielded questions from a moderator regarding present and future issues facing particularly the Davidson-Williamson county region.

It should be noted that this was not the first of such displays of solidarity among the mayors. Inspired by a model of regional cooperation he observed in the metro Denver area, in 2009 Mayor Karl Dean launched the Middle Tennessee Mayors Caucus which now includes 40 city and county mayors from ten Middle Tennessee counties. The purpose of the mayors caucus is clearly stated on their website (www.middletnmayors.com): “The purpose of the Mayors Caucus is to foster communication and coordination among cities and counties across Middle Tennessee; advocate public policies beneficial to cities and counties, and the region as a whole; promote a positive image of the region as a place to live, work, and play; cultivate and maintain a strong and engaged civic culture; and strengthen vital partnerships with the business community to ensure economic prosperity.”

The mayors realize our communities are not a series of walled off compartments but are a complex and connected system. Middle Tennessee is a large spider’s web with many lines of connection. Unlike compartments, when you touch any part of a spider web the entire structure moves. Transportation issues in Nashville affect Franklin businesses and Spring Hill homebuyers. The impact of the new convention center in downtown Nashville will be felt economically throughout our entire region. Education issues in one county spill over into job placement issues in another.

It is that same spirit of regionalism that has led the three area chambers of commerce in Williamson County to move toward unification in the coming year. Any chamber of commerce must understand that it exists for the sake of and the development of the businesses in the community and for the community’s welfare as a whole. Businesses don’t exist to create and support chambers of commerce. But a great synergy happens when both sides realize they need each other and seize the benefits of mutual support and service. Williamson County is an extraordinary place to live and with the collaboration seen in the Mayors Caucus and the Chambers of Commerce unification, our leaders are working with foresight to assure that it will continue to be a highly desirable place to make our homes and plant our lives.

Author and therapist, Ramon Presson, is the founder of LifeChange Counseling and the Marriage Center of Franklin, TN. www.LifeChangeCS.org

Moving from Me Me Me to Us Us Us

2011-08-05T09:17:00.000-05:00

Last night's All Chamber Mixer at Temple Hills Country Club was attended by over 200 people. If you were there you saw many local, state and national dignitaries enthusiastic about the unification of Williamson County's 3 major Chamber.

Is this really going to happen? YES, it would appear that it is.
Is it going to be easy? NO, but nothing worthwhile is easy.
How do you feel about it? There is a place for comments below.
How do I feel about it? Excited, anticipatory, positive, hopeful.

Since assuming the position of President of the Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce in 2009, I've wrestled with the answer to this question? How do we make the value proposition of membership greater for the corporate entities that are HQ'd in Williamson? I've been frustrated that I could not single-handedly effect this change.

With three Chambers in the county, we were never asked to even support the efforts of economic development or the retention of previously recruited companies. Who would you ask? There are three Chambers, so let's just don't ask any of them and do it without them.

All three Chambers support local small businesses very well. But only if we unify can we be the powerhouse that a highly-educated, highly-motivated, and fiscally blessed community ought to be.

Let's get out of our Me Me Me and begin to see the power in Us Us Us. Support this effort with

positive word of mouth
positive publicity
and a check

If you are already a member of one of more Chamber, please continue to be loyal to all during this transition (as NISSAN has pledged to do!). And if you are not a member because you haven't known which one to join...well join one.

Learn more about what a Chamber can do to help Promote, Protect, and Serve business
Help us maintain our finances through this transition. Without your support we will crash before we can get the Charter for One Williamson written!
Call today and say, "I want to help sponsor a professional facilitator to assist you in the unification process." We will give you lots of recognition and notoriety. 771-1071

Be a part of One Williamson One Chamber! We'll all win!

Marti Veto

marti@thecoolspringschamber.com

Experience the Difference

2011-05-02T13:09:00.002-05:00

Out in the community enjoying my job as a 'one man band', I consistently hear this message..."the Cool Springs Chamber is unique". So I ask for clarification, "How are we unique?"

Here are the Top 5 answers I get:

Newcomers feel 'wanted and included' on the first day
We embrace change as progress
We are relevant to the goals of business professionals in 2011
We are independent of political affiliations (i.e. receive no government funding)
We really want to help each other succeed

All these statements are quite true of our culture and are obvious to anyone who belongs to the Cool Springs Chamber or has visited with us.If I am opening a new business or looking to freshen up the image and clientele of an existing business, these are 5 of my top concerns. This is what I'm looking to find.
So what are you waiting for? It's the marketing bargain of the year. Hello and Welcome!

"Experience the Difference"....just sayin'... ;-)

Become a Member

MBA - Move Business Ahead and NOW

2011-03-01T07:56:00.009-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Business World,
It is my great pleasure to serve you as you work each day to move your business along the continuum of success. Seeing others achieve and accomplish their dreams, certainly draws me closer to my own dream. Staying true to that purpose, let's take a look at what is really best for the business community in Williamson County. I've attached an article from the Brentwood Homepage, an update on the Chamber unification process, as a reference. BHP Article.

The Cool Springs Chamber is a smaller, tighter group than the other two Chambers in the area, and there is a reason for that....because we CAN BE. And while the idea of our culture being slurped up and diluted in a tidal wave of numbers from two other larger Chambers is not entirely appealing to me, the idea of getting more done for my member/constituents certainly is. And if the Leadership of a new Chamber admires and respects the culture that Cool Springs has, it will allow our influence to color the "New World".

Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce

What do we want? What do you want? A Chamber that is representative of both the C-Suite Executives of Maryland Farms, Crossroads and Carothers, while meeting the needs of entrepreneurial merchants who sell products or services throughout the county? One that stands out in the Volunteer State as the epicentric complement to our Big Sister in Nashville?

Setting aside my personal bias for a small, "unique boutique" Chamber, here are:
3 reasons I know that Unity is Right
1) Williamson County should dominate Middle Tennessee in what it's Chamber accomplishes for its business partners
2) What worked yesterday doesn't cut it today. "Updated" is the new baseline. This means fewer words, more pictures, less talk more action. Technology is the WAY!
3) "I want for you what I want for myself." If you care about your community, if you care about the people in it, if you want US to succeed, then it's time to put ego aside and do what is right for Planet Williamson.
Hmmmmm......what do you think about that? What other reasons would you contribute to this commentary?
Post them here....and if you believe as I do JOIN US! Let's be strong and ready to make a greater contribution to the whole.

With gratitude for a phenomenal community,
Marti

5 Ways to Leverage Your Silent Partner

2011-02-21T14:28:00.000-06:00

So you've attended a couple of meetings, had coffee with a guy/gal you met at the Chamber breakfast, now what? What has Your Chamber done for you lately? I wish you knew! Please explore the following and let's get started getting you more.

Let's explore what we can do to truly help each other.

1) Did you know you can advertise on the Chamber website for as little as $75 month? On any page?
http://www.thecoolspringschamber.com/
2) Did you know your Cool Springs Chamber Business Directory listing may be the first listing to appear in a Google search? Just Google "Mack and Kate's Cool Springs" and see what you get. and that listing can be enhanced with a video and a photo for only $300 a year if you want to really stand out. http://www.thecoolspringschamber.com/directory
3) Did you know that you can submit your own events to our Community Calendar page? Just Log In the Members Only portal and choose "Submit an Event"
4) Do you know that you can sponsor the Women's Leadership Network for only $250/month and take 5 minutes at the podium to promote your company? Plus get logo recognition on all my eblasts!
5) Do you know how many times your business has been found via the Chamber? Just log on to the website as a member, and choose "Referral Reports" from the green menu list.

Now what can YOU do to increase traffic to our site so that even more prospects find you?
1) Send us your press releases! We want to tout your news, promotions and events
2) Link back to http://www.thecoolspringschamber.com/ from your website.
3) "Like" us on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/e1xPyw
4) Follow me on this blog and on Twitter
5) Send me photos you'd like posted on Flicker or videos for You Tube. Upon approval they will be posted for the world to see.

How easy is that? Go for it!

Marti

Merging or still EMERGING!

2010-11-05T07:36:00.000-05:00

Merging?
Last night at the Regional Business After Hours, the most frequently asked question was, "I heard a rumor that the Chambers in Williamson Co. are merging...is it true?"

Let's be clear. All that is fact is that a committee has been named to study the feasibility of a unified Williamson County chamber of commerce. Three representatives from Williamson County Franklin, Brentwood Cool Springs, and The Cool Springs Chamber have been named to serve on the committee. There are also one representative from the Spring Hill Chamber, the Nolensville Chamber and an independent, at large representative. The timeline for this committee to make its recommendation is April 1, 2011. After that, either there will be no merger recommended, or if a merger is the recommendation, the board of each chamber will have to consider what, when and how this new organization would be structured. A complete copy of the press release follows this post.

I strongly believe that the merger needs to happen. The strength of a unified Chamber means no duplication of efforts, no division of resources. Most importantly it means replacing a competitive situation with a cohesive community environment. Yes, I am all for it.
But until then.....
The Cool Springs Chamber is still EMERGING! And the Value of Membership has never been stronger. Our culture is emerging as one of camaraderie, abundance and inclusion, welcoming entrepreneurs and corporate entities alike, providing support, promotion and protection of the economic development of our community.

Folks, please don't postpone getting involved in the chamber of commerce because you anticipate a merger. IF it happens, it may be 18 months or longer. Business is going forward, networking is going on, contacts are being made and economic development is progressing.

It's the BEST time EVER at The Cool Springs Chamber and I encourage you to increase your investment of time and energy and JOIN today! As a matter of fact, if you will mention that you read this post, your individual membership is only $250 for the next 12 months. Larger organizations will be discounted proportionately.

http://www.thecoolspringschamber.com

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Contact: David Green, 615-517-5653 or dgreen@dgreencommunications.com

For Immediate release

Committee named to study unified Williamson County chamber of commerce

Oct. 22, 2010 – A 12-person committee has been named to study the feasibility of uniting the three main chambers of commerce in Williamson County into a county-wide chamber.

As previously announced, the chambers are studying the possibility of unifying in order to create a stronger voice for economic development and the business community in Williamson County.

The committee is composed of three members from each of the three chambers and three at-large members.

They are:

Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce:

Brad Dunn, Brentwood Area Executive, Pinnacle Financial Partners

Linda Hirsch, Realtor, Zeitlin & Co., Realtors

Randy Lee, CFP, TrustCore Financial, Inc.

Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce:

Kirsten Dernbach, Associate Director in Internet Marketing, Verizon

Jim Kennedy, Owner, Jim Kennedy Autos

Kristen McBryde, Director of Sales, Aloft Hotels

Williamson County-Franklin Chamber of Commerce:

Rufus Bagsby, Retired Bank Executive

Chris Czarka, Director of Tax & Customs, Nissan North America Inc.

Pam Stephens, Assistant Manger, Williamson Memorial Funeral Home & Gardens

At Large:

Chuck Fann, Realtor, McArthur Sanders Real Estate, Chairman, Nolensville Chamber of Commerce

J. Thomas McDaniel, Director of Office Properties, Boyle Nashville, LLC

Jill Rosenberry, Branch Manager/AVP, SunTrust Bank, 2011 Chairperson, Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce

The committee’s meetings will be led by independent facilitator, Liz Allen Fey, CEO of Management Solutions Group, LLC.

The steering committee will be free to explore a wide range of possibilities including how a unified chamber might be structured. The three chambers have not set any pre-conditions for this process. It is projected that the committee will complete its work by the end of the first quarter of 2011 and make a recommendation for the board of each chamber to consider.

Mayoral Summit Afterglow

2010-09-16T09:28:00.002-05:00

You know that great morning after feeling you get after the Big Event is over? That's what I'm enjoying this week. You who have watched the progress of the Cool Springs Chamber in it's growth from new start-up-cute-baby to gawky-adolescent to business-communty-sparkler know that there have been many baby steps in the process.

The Mayoral Summit was first held in 2008, before I came on board with the Chamber. That year, both Karl Dean and John Schroer were new to their offices, and interest was high. It was novel and appreciated that Mayor Dean would cross the county line to come and participate in a forum with Williamson County Mayors. Soon, it became apparent that here were mayors who want to maximize the opportunities for synergistic collaborations between the two counties, especially those pertaining to economic development.

Mayor Dean's Mayors' Caucus brings together all Mayors in Middle Tennessee (and there are a lot of them) for brainstorming, sharing, and strategizing. This open communication is a simple but brilliant idea for making everyone feel that they have some skin in the game, and a voice that is heard.

This year's Summit was, as in the past, cordial and non-contentious. Chris Stout, wealth strategist with Evergreen Financial, did a great job as moderator, asking the questions and choosing appropriate first-respondents from among the panel according to the question's relativity to each Mayor's primary constituency. Topics addressed included traffic congestion, corporate recruitment accomplishments (like Jackson Life) and new efforts with 'can't tell' companies, strategic transportation issues, and the recession. All these are topics that affect our Members' strategies and tactics.

With over 250 members of 3 Chambers in attendance, the audience was putting off some serious energy. I love the buzz coming off 250 silent listeners as they wait to hear an answer that makes it easier to go back out and get busy at business. For in this time of uncertainty our concerns are many...and a little positivity goes a long way to keep us in the game.

I especially want to thank not only our panel, Dean, Crossley, Anderson and Schroer, but also our Presenting Corporate Sponsor for the Mayoral Summit 2010, VERIZON WIRELESS. This is a company whose cutting edge marketing strategy, from "Can you hear me now?" to "It's the Network" to "Rule the Air", never loses sight of what they stand for or who they serve. Their mission is to remain the most reliable and largest wireless service and data network in the country, currently serving 91.2 million customers.

Verizon Wireless representative and Cool Springs Chamber Board Member, Kirsten Dernbach, made these comments at Tuesday's Summit:
"I hope that this part of our corporate credo, will serve as the guiding principal for this Summit and the opportunity this forum provides for the partnership of the 3 Area Chambers of Commerce, our Mayors and the communities we serve. The credo states, “We are driven not by ego but by accomplishments. We respect and trust one another, communicating openly, candidly and directly since any other way is unfair and simply a waste of time.”

Thank you Kirsten, for reminding us that it is amazing to see just how much you can get done, if you simply don't mind who gets the credit!

What did you think of the Summit? I'd love to hear your reactions.

Member Profile - Summer 2010 "A Chat with Lee Barroll First Community Mortgage

2010-08-26T17:23:00.015-05:00

Lee Barroll - First Community Mortgage

I love to hear our Members tell their stories. Everyone has one, don't they? Lee is a loan officer with First Community Mortgage. But that's not what makes Lee special. What I like about Lee is that he is calm, organized, and dedicated. When he talks, you hear practicality mixed with confidence and determination. Lee is someone with whom you could build a trust relationship. And isn't that what we all look for in our business advisors and partners?

Here's a bit of our conversation today over lunch at Cajun Steamer.

Marti: Lee, how long have you been in the mortgage business?

Lee: I've been in the mortgage industry since 1995, so 15 years.

Marti: What about Middle Tennessee? How long have you lived in this area?
Lee: I've lived here since 2005.
Marti: How do you build your referral network?
Lee: Gripping and grinning, Marti, and letting people know what I do.
Marti: To what organizations do you belong?
Lee: Besides the Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce, I am also active in Rotary and BNI.
Marti: Are you involved in social media marketing?
Lee: Yes, I am on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Marti: I actually follow you on Twitter. How do you use Twitter?
Lee: I position myself as a resource of information. I tweet links to information that may help people educate themselves about the real estate industry and specifically mortgage lending.
Marti: Lee, what is the most challenging part of your work?
Lee: Changing guidelines. What worked yesterday doesn't necessarily work today.
Marti: Are consumers aware of this?
Lee: Yes, to some degree. Some have 'heard' that they can't qualify for a home loan and they certainly can, while others are sure that they will qualify and they won't.
Marti: So what advice do you give someone who is looking to finance a home?
Lee: Talk to a loan officer. Don't assume that you can or can't qualify for financing. There are so many variables that there is no 'cookie cutter' answer. A person's decision regarding a home mortgage or a home re-fi should be made based on the most current information.
Marti: What's the toughest part of your job?
Lee: There are easy calls to make and there are hard calls to make. I believe my job is making the hard calls. When you have news that the client or the client's realtor don't want to hear, that's not my favorite part of my job.
Marti: You’ve commented today that you have been very busy. To what do you attribute your success?
Lee: When things are going well, anyone can succeed. When money is tight, your product knowledge, your industry experience, your level of personal service and your skill set as a loan officer become much more important.
Marti: Who is your biggest competitor?
Lee: Everybody and nobody. Mortgages are a commodity. I get chosen because I made a connection. I am very client-oriented...working within the client's time frame and availability. If you are available on a Friday night at 5:00, I'm going to jump in my car and come to your house.
Marti: What is the philosophy of First Community Mortgage? How do you differentiate yourself in this noisy marketplace?
Lee: We pride ourselves on being able to close a loan quickly and on time, no matter how busy we get. Our clients don't get lost in the shuffle. We are a direct lender and we deal directly with Fannie and Freddie so there is no middle man. I think it is important to get face-to-face with people to go over the transaction in detail and be available to answer their questions, because typically this is the largest financial transaction most people will make.
Marti: It sounds like you may not have much leisure time, Lee. But when you do take a break what do you enjoy?
Lee: I like to spend time with my family. We are in the process of remodeling our house, so we have a lot of projects around the house.
Marti: Is there something you are 'crazy' about? Do you collect anything?
Lee: (chuckling) No, I don't collect anything, but I am quite a connoisseur of good coffee.
Marti: Now you're talking! What is your favorite?
Lee: I like a really dark roast. Italian roast is my favorite.
Marti: I don't know a thing about mortgage lending, but I can talk Italian roast with you all afternoon.
Lee: I'd love to Marti, but don't you think we both need to get back to work?

What do our three dots mean?

2010-08-25T17:42:00.005-05:00

Our logo is the product of much research and testing. For several weeks, our Vision Team met to discuss the future of our Chamber and the direction in which we want it to grow. Birdsong Creative, a firm who led me to this organization in 2008, crafted a mark that softly and cleanly speaks of who we are.

A group of strong entrepreneurial business professionals, relatively young in both chronological years and professional development, we like our tech-y toys, our social media and our 2.0 styles.

So when we chose a very clean, crisp Apple-esque look for our logo, we did it with much deliberate thinking. What do we stand for? Here are the resonating words we derived.

information Bringing the latest and greatest messages through up-to-the-minute speakers and tools

innovation Consistently asking 'what else', 'what if' and 'why not'?

influence Never underestimate the power of your personal influence and use it wisely

When you receive an eblast or newsletter from the Cool Springs Chamber, look for these icons. They'll tell you why we are offering this to you. Not just to be having a meeting, but to be fulfilling what you say you want from a Chamber.

As always, your comments and suggestions are most welcome.
"Good Relationships Build Good Business"
Marti@TheCoolSpringsChamber.com

Rebuilding Main Street, Through Small Business And Banks

2010-07-19T21:22:00.000-05:00

Small-business owners and small banks on Main Street are not looking for a handout; they are not asking for a bailout or a free deal. They are asking for a fair deal, to be able to compete and work out their difficulties over time, difficulties caused by irresponsible Wall Street speculators.

Click to read more: Rebuilding Main Street, Through Small Businesses and Banks

No Whining! Dealing with the Deluge

2010-05-16T12:12:00.003-05:00

It's hard to believe that two weeks have past since we were inundated by ravaging flash floods, encroaching ground water and a powerful river gushing out of its banks. "Time flies whether you are having fun or not!"

To the hundreds of people I know who have been dealing with lost family members, ruined homes, shorted electronics, soggy insulation, molded drywall and empty pockets, let's say "Salute" to one another. When a community enters into the recovery process of an enormous adversity like this "1,000 Year" flood of 2010, the best comes out in the people. Working side by side, encouraging another while concerned for your own situation, being grateful that it wasn't worse: all expand the sense of community like nothing else.

Hats off to you Franklin and Nashville. There are no whiners here! Only winners.

It will be months before everyone is back to 'normal' (whatever that is...). Our comeback will be as a stronger, more humble, concentric community with a sense of purpose like never before.

Think about what you can do to stay motivated and inspire others to stay the course and win the race. Here are my five for today.

Make eye contact and smile - Human connections are powerful.
Listen - We've all got a flood story and it's cathartic to share.
Strategize - Brainstorm with others about ways to collaborate for a faster recovery.
Execute - Create a timeline of milestone accomplishments and celebrate as each one is reached.
Reflect - Think about the learnings from the event and use them to power-up for a bright future.

The very well-done amateur video at this LINK is indicative of the spirit of community support of which we are all proud to be a part.

Find a way to help and be helped! YOU ARE THE VOLUNTEER STATE!

Chamber Wish List

2010-05-10T11:56:00.000-05:00

The Chamber is in need of some items you may have. If you can connect us with any of the following items please let us know in the Cool Springs Chamber Office.

American Flag and Stand for monthly breakfast meetings at Durego
Literature Rack for your Business Cards and Brochures to be displayed
Photos of your businesses for our walls (see earllier blog post for details)
Volunteer Office Help to make calls and help with the text and photos for the new website
Photographer at our events all this month for use on website (in exchange for an enhanced directory page, $300 value)
Small paper shredder

Thanks to former member Brian Carden for the 19" monitor for Michele's computer! Works great! Get back in the Chamber Brian!!

Here's What YOU Said YOU Want

2010-05-04T16:46:00.003-05:00

Hello Cool Springs Chamber,

Well, if our last meeting didn't fire you up, your wood is wet! Thank you for the excitement and the momentum your enthusiasm generated at our April Breakfast meeting. Our new logo is fresh and progressive and speaks to what we are...a vibrant young chamber with a progressive spirit and a warm personality. A big thank you to the Birdsong Team for expressing our culture so well.

Thank you all for your participation and your comments and thanks to the facilitators and recorders who led the discussions and captured your input.

As promised, here are your comments, raw and unedited, resulting from our Discovery Groups at last month's meeting. I'll be commenting on them all but wanted you to see what others had said prior to my addressing them. If you go to the bottom of the page you can leave me your comments, insights, additional thoughts, etc. I'll respond to them all.

Notes from Table Discussions: April 2010 Membership Breakfast

Why did you join the Cool Springs Chamber?
• A way to get the word out at a local level
• Still figuring out what and why
• Networking
• I am a small business and this is the opportunity in the area
• Nice way to meet new people
• Looking for younger, professional crowd with start up companies
• Catering needs met for businesses
• Columbia State-help get the word out about continuing education classes
• To get involved
• Exposure
• 8 out of 8 people at Stacia’s table joined for networking opportunities. Of those 8, two were new to the area and were looking to make connections as well.
• One said they enjoyed the Chamber in comparison to other chambers.
• One is a member of their local chamber and was looking for the same experience from us.
• Learning experience
• Previous involvement and to build network of contacts

Things we are doing well and need to keep doing:
• Opportunities to mingle, mix and meet other business people
• Motivational speakers are great and super for pumping us up to face the day.
• Regular communication about what’s going on is great.
• Auction where members donate items to raise funds and learn more about what other members do.
• Members donating things for our mixers to reduce cost and increase exposure
• Business leads exchange
• Word of mouth advertising opportunities
• Name with a face
• I love the personality. It is very open, receiving.

What can the Cool Springs Chamber do to add value?
• Website discussion-special offers from one chamber member to another instead of advertising.
• Members encouraging other members to join by showing a special offer through the chamber site…encourage them to join the chamber by taking advantage of the offer.
• Visual flip cam showing different specials. Twitter is a lot of noise and professionally there could be a better way i.e.: Linked’ In
• Professional development: network and learn. Speakers are important, valid and informational.
• Leads exchange-more effective way
• Quicker way to develop relationships with other chamber members.
• Speed biz—15 min face to face interaction with other members
• Email marketing-less fluff, more to the point, consolidate to 1 a week
• Exposure-to encourage growth, presence at events.
• Payment plan for chamber dues-economics (cheaper events)
• Continue to network—take time to do that at events. Even do more of that, speed networking events.
• Streamline the agenda at meetings to give more face to face networking time like right now.
• Breakfast sponsor stick to the time frame.
• Name with a face at the beginning of the event!
• Ambassador do introductions of new chamber members—need info on the role of the Ambassadors
• Classes on social networking
• More events available: opportunities to interact are a great value.
• Inclusiveness
• Ways to connect members with business needs
Continue to listen
• Community outreach, economic development, and awareness
• Involving members into the direction of the chamber
• Add different avenues to effect commerce
• It would be valuable to have a weekly or monthly e-blast featuring 4 or 5 local businesses. I could click through if I wanted to.
• Networking group- make copies of business card and give out to others
• Business leads exchange—it’s within this chamber. List a personal lead and a business lead.
• In a former group they did “rapid fire” networking and pulled chairs to the side for members to gain cards and learn more information about the one they wanted.
• Education on how to give business—our focus being how to connect people to one another.
• In Rutherford Co., the e-blast features new businesses, then 5 year anniversary
• Chamber being on Twitter—so many events!
• Would like to have more of the luncheons. Once a quarter or two times per year.
• More small group opportunities
• Set up business specific, non competitive groups
• Face to face as opposed to all Internet
• Peer groups
• Google calendars
• Not make Chamber Internet exclusive
• Build camaraderie through “casual mixers”
• Don’t like name with a face
• Stacia’s table discussed the new logo: They like it. One person was interested in the word “Cool” in orange to keep the color flow from the dots. Plus they wanted a warm color with the cool green color. They thought that would keep with the new branding. One other had concern that the orange would not be readable from a distance. Another point regarding the logo was just the fact that people do pay attention to details. That consistency does matter because people notice especially new people.
• One person mentioned that at a previous town’s chamber the whole group was broken down into group so 12. This smaller group would not have any competing businesses and would sign a confidentiality waiver. Then it would be used to help each other with their businesses. In addition, one member of the small group would bring concerns or ides to the board of the chamber each month for continuous feedback. This would help with retention so it would be more personal connection. Also, it would provide a place for embers to let their guard down and help solve problems within their own businesses.
• One person wanted to emphasize the importance of keeping members emotionally involved to the community and chamber. That would help with retention as well. That connection also would allow people to be put in front of others with influence too.
• Have informational gatherings of people in the same vertical industry.
• Have members give testimonials at meeting and on video for the website
• Go back to the Marriott
• Use “Linked In” to post needs
• Monthly “drip” for current needs
• Search ability: put in a key word to find businesses
• An interactive web site with a profile and brand photo
• Small core groups or teams for relationship building
• Sell directed groups outside of the chamber
• Training on how to effectively network: you can pass cards but what is the next step? Coffee? A meeting? People need to learn how to continue the networking process.
• Continue helping us get out there and meet new people in the community
Keep up the momentum for the a.m. meetings (a.m.= Go Getters!)
• Add more local/community support
• Provide panels/discussions on current events to help aide us all. (I.e. bankers/insurance-to let us know how the market and new government laws are affecting us).
• Training programs on how to develop your business: motivational, communications, training, practical instruction, developing a business plan, marketing/networking further
• On website provide better access to a business under industry titles to be used by community outside of the chamber
• Find ways to enrich the community: reach out and give back 1 time a quarter. Either fundraiser/food drive/Habitat for Humanity

What can we do to support the Chamber?
• Sponsor meetings and other events
• Invite others to join, come as guests
• Join committees, help out
• Involvement
• Get more involved on committees and serve
• Donate for mixers
• Go to events other than the breakfast membership meeting.
• Invite people we know and encourage them to join
• Help others to experience our Chamber so they will choose to join this one

Good Learnings from a Tweep Friend of Mine

2010-02-24T08:17:00.000-06:00

@martiveto for Cool Springs Chamber on Twitter - Are You Following?

Mary Kurek is one of my favorite tweeple on Twitter. Today I found this article on her website. This isn't plagiarism, it's "research", folks. If you like this little sample, please check out Mary's website and follow us both on Twitter.

I'll 'follow' you back, and 'tweet' when I do business with you.

What Will Make an Immediate Difference to Your Small Business (and How the Chamber Can Help)

by Mary Kurek, Visibility Consultant
http://www.marykurek.com

Okay - admit it. Over the holidays, you found yourself moaning and groaning through your cocktails about how bad business has been this year. You probably even pointed the finger of blame at local organizations whose job you feel it is to look after business.

It's natural, but it's not useful. Your most proactive position right now is to get rid of the whining and blaming - and get "real" with what you need to do. You have a few questions to ask yourself now.

1. Have I been conscious of the ROI I need to get from good business decision-making, or have I been making decisions based on something else?

2. Do I have clear operational guides (job descriptions, budget, personnel policies, evaluations contracts, processes)?

3. Have I practiced "deal-making" and seeking "collaborative promotional arrangements" with fellow local businesses?

4. Have I "sought" educational opportunities available locally that boost my technological and online intelligence?

5. Have I surveyed my customer base to keep up with how they receive marketing messages and what they want?

6. Have I participated in events and activities to make a difference for fellow business owners where I could?

My experience tells me that most of you are going to respond with a "who has the time" defense. Here's my response: no matter what amount of money you spend with another person/entity to help you improve your business, ultimately it's up to you to ensure you are getting your ROI.

I knew a business owner who paid $800 a month to a firm that was supposed to be writing and placing blog postings online. After a period of time, it was evident by the business owner that he really was paying for nothing. He couldn't find the postings -- hadn't checked for months until it crossed his mind. Thousands of dollars wasted.

Where you spend money that is intended to benefit your business -- it is your business to make sure you get what you pay for. Chamber of Commerce included. Talk to the staff - find out how to make the most of your membership.

by Brian Oberkirch

Your Chamber is producing free or low-cost workshops. If they aren't the ones you need, tell them what's important to you.

A Chamber always endeavors first to spend money with its members - but it's up to you to put a proposal in front of them. They are a business, just like you.

If you need help spreading the word about an event or would like Chamber representation, inform them.

And,if your Chamber thinks social media is important enough to produce a workshop on it and charge you $75 to attend, tell them you better find them on Twitter and Facebook, too.

Hopefully, at the end of this year, you'll be bragging about business and your Chamber over cocktails. But, if you aren't, vent to the people that can make improvements.

Host a Business After Hours Event

2010-02-23T15:41:00.005-06:00

The Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce

is now taking reservations for

Bring 50+ Potential New Customers

into your Store, Office or Corporation

Anniversary Celebration

Grand Opening

Promotional Event

Sponsor Fee $250

Events Listing
Website Logo Recognition
Link to Your Website
Eblast as an Upcoming Event

615-771-1071

Serving Up Talk that Dishes Better Business

2010-02-23T07:55:00.003-06:00

Putting a face and a voice on stage in front of the Cool Springs Chamber is like choosing someone else's dinner entree.

Appealing to an audience of varied levels of internet savvy, marketing expertise and strategic planning is one circumstance. Add to that the diversity of businesses: service, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, creative, financial... and "Houston, we have a problem", or at least 'a challenge'.

My primary goal is to find speakers with relevance, broad appeal, and expertise that will give each member present at least one 'aha' to carry back to work. Members should walk to their car thinking, "I'm glad I came today. That was helpful information."
As I sit in the audience and listen to the speaker I want my members to hear:

at least one idea he/she can apply immediately to increase profitability
at least one concept he/she wants to explore further because it may increase profitability
at least one person in mind with whom he/she wants to make a deeper connection for greater profitability
at least one topic he/she wants to Google to learn more because knowing more may lead to greater profitability

Beginning to detect a pattern? Your business is my business. I want you to exceed your expectations. You should walk to your car thinking, "I've been (some or all) illuminated, educated, motivated, inspired, entertained, provoked to think about my business differently, and incited to take action."
These goals are accomplished by a mix of methods such as:

Storytelling - Usually by sharing universally relevant life experiences
Instructing - Cold, hard "how-to's" that incite the listener to action
Giving Examples - "I once had a 'no-see' customer that was critical to my success. In order to connect with that person, I took these steps..."
Educating on Business Principles - Ex: website visits + ad results = ROI

If you leave the meeting feeling 'served', the value proposition of your chamber membership has just increased. You've spent your time and money well, because you've interacted with stimulating peers, you've made new connections, and you've heard from an expert who has left you with a stronger sense of self confidence and determination to learn and grow your business.

Note: None of our speakers are paid any honorarium. They graciously speak for the love of business and for the opportunity to expose you to theirs. When you hear someone speak who strikes a chord within, reach out and let them know. We are all in this together! There is synergy and energy in sharing and connecting with like minds. Make the most of it.

I welcome your comments, speaker suggestions, and feedback.

You are Your Brand - Spill It Here!

2010-02-02T16:20:00.006-06:00

One of the most popular marketing concepts in vogue today is that of "Branding". For what do you want your company, product or service to stand ? What is the superlative that is most important to your image?

Do you want to be the fastest, the most efficient, the most agile, the most luxurious, the rarest?

Once you are branded, it's permanent. Everyone knows who you are and where you belong. Whoa! That's a frightening thought.
Your brand equity is money in the bank. Shouldn't you take care of it?

I was watching the Golden Globes with a friend who is an astute marketer. One of the presenters, a famous male celebrity, came to the podium to present a Golden Globe and my friend said, "Wow, he's had a few cocktails".

Thinking his judgment was a little harsh, I said, "Yes, probably so, but it's a gala dinner, don't you imagine most everyone has?"

In a flash he replied, "But Marti, he's a brand. If he appears 'toasted', he damages his brand."

When I was a medical sales representative, driving 1000 miles/week and calling on hospitals in 40 rural counties in Kentucky, I taped a note to my dashboard that read, "Be Professional, Be Prepared, Be the Best".

Each time I swung my legs out of the car door, I read that note and I sucked in my abs, straightened my shoulders and went to work. I built a reputation as a rep who didn't just interrupt your day. I brought value and I left.

It helped me save my market share! Because in the case of a tie, the winner is the one who sets themselves apart, who leaves the best impression: who doesn't gossip, who doesn't intrusively waste time, who sincerely cares about the customer.

You are the steward of your Brand...Protect It!

Comments?

I'd like to hear from you. Write me and tell me what how you brand yourself. Share how you exude your brand and how you protect it.

Our Members in Profile

2009-10-15T10:47:00.008-05:00

Today is the first in a new weekly post called, Members in Profile. Each week I will profile one Cool Springs Chamber member/business in an informal chat format.

Our premier member is Mary Weary of Menu Maker Catering. Yesterday I had a chance to catch up with Mary after she had prepared and served a lovely luncheon for prospective clients. Here are the highlights from my chat with Mary.

Marti: Mary, how long have you been in the catering business?
Mary: I've been in the catering business over 15 years.

Marti: That's quite a lot of experience. What work did you do prior to opening your catering business?
Mary: I've always worked in the food business. I’ve worked mostly as a food broker, but also in recipe testing and development for various restaurants.

Marti: I suppose you've observed a lot of growth and change in the food industry over the years. What are some of the old restaurants you called on that some of our members will remember?
Mary: There weren't nearly as many restaurants as there are now of course, but some of the favorites were Sandy's in downtown Franklin, Merridee's Bakery and the Brass Lantern.

Marti: How would you describe your style in cuisine?

Mary: Our style is your style! I try to customize our menus to your taste. We can be flexible to meet the needs of the client. I have a chef, Callie Cottrell, who can cook almost anything you want.

Marti: Do you have a favorite type of event you particularly enjoy?
Mary: Well, I love an event that allows me to develop long term relationships. Helping brides plan for their wedding can tend to take a long amount of time, which in turn, helps develop a deeper relationship.

Marti: What about corporate events? Do you cater many of them?
Mary: Oh yes, corporate meetings and events are very important. I have catered in over 100 different venues.  We also cater corporate boxed lunches.

Marti: Mary, you seem to really embrace technology in your business. You have a beautiful website and you are involved in social networking. Has that been hard for you?
Mary: I believe that if you are going to be successful in business today, you have to keep up with, and use, technology. I have an assistant, Erin Pickering, who helps me keep up with my social networking, my web presence and my email.

Marti: Mary, do you have any professional pet peeves?
Mary: Not really a peeve, but I do like working with people who do what they say they will do.

Marti: Are you ever asked for special dietary considerations?
Mary: Oh yes, quite often.  We just recently catered a Vegan Wedding that was a success. We can also accommodate gluten-free meals, diabetic meals, and will make custom menus for allergies.   We give our clients what they want.

Marti: What about the other items needed to put on a party of corporate event? Are you a one-stop shop?
Mary: Yes, we can be. If a client would like me to arrange for service items, linens, even florals, I am happy to arrange for these to be done.

Marti: On a personal note, Mary, how long have you been in Middle Tennessee?
Mary: I grew up in Green Hills, went to Hillsboro High School, and moved to Williamson County 20 years ago.

Marti: And what do you enjoy in your leisure time? How do you relieve stress?
Mary: I like to read.  My husband and I enjoy boating on the lake, RV'ing and camping.

Marti: In some of the outdoor venues, it seems it would be difficult to prepare and serve food in the absence of a real kitchen. How do you manage that?
Mary: Well, it really helps to have running water and electricity. We can manage without them however. I have worked with help from a generator. Once I plugged in an appliance and it must have been the last straw, because the generator quit and so did everything it was running!

Marti: Do you have any pets?
Mary: No, my husband would love to have a dog, but I am allergic to them.

Menu Maker Catering

From Mary's website:
Currently on the TWESA board (Tennessee Wedding and Events Specialists Association), owner Mary Weary holds a bachelor’s degree in food administration, and years of experience in varied aspects of the food industry. She has experience in recipe testing and development, product display, kitchen layout design and currently has a licensed and inspected kitchen in her home. Her high standards and vision for excellence have inspired her employees to help successfully establish an exceptional customer service oriented business.

Theme for 2010 - How to Use Your Chamber

2009-10-06T13:59:00.000-05:00

Here's the Scoop from Cool Springs:

To keep us on track and in the groove through Q4/2009-Q2/2010, we are going to focus on a central theme for our educational offerings and our speakers.

Coming into the Chamber it was my desire to build upon the outstanding traditions being celebrated by the members of THE Cool Springs Chamber. There is a strong culture here of inclusiveness, belonging and relationships that should be fostered and nurtured. People who choose this Chamber expect to meet people like them. They want to know how other entrepreneurs and corporate CEO's are running their businesses. They want to share thoughts on maintaining a strong customer base through the rescession, and on shoring up their infrastructure so that when the need is there they will be ready.

And that is exactly what I am trying to help the Board of Directors accomplish here. What can we do to help our members be steady eddy now so they can rock and roll (sooner rather than) later?

To that end, we are going to turn our focus to a central theme: "How to Use Your Chamber" to increase profits and maximize resources. Now this is a topic with some teeth. So watch what we bring you, ask for what you want, give us feedback through the discussions pages, and help us make this the best darn community of businessmen in the world. We certainly have the venue for it...

Because we are THE Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Watch this spot for more coming soon.

Conference Room Available to Members

2009-09-14T15:31:00.001-05:00

Chamber Members,

Just a word of invitation. If you are a small business or a corporation with a full schedule of meetings, we have a conference room you may want to borrow. Our rarely used conference room in our offices at 720 Cool Springs Blvd. seats 10 quite comfortably. There is also room for you to hotel while working in the area with a comfortable desk, phone and wifi.

It's your Chamber! We are here to serve you.

Marti

Photo Contest

2009-09-14T15:29:00.001-05:00

REMINDER: I'm offering free memberships to lucky winners of our photography contest. This features YOU, our members, showing off your business in pics that represent the best of Cool Springs. Framed alike, they will be exhibited here at 720 Cool Springs Blvd. for our Holiday Mixer (did I say Holdiay?, make that Christmas Mixer). Winners will be named and ALL properly framed submissions will be displayed in our office and conference room. See details and instructions on the link posted (my Aug 21st blog post).

Touched by Want of an Angel

2009-09-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Last Wednesday, Sept 9th, in the sweet afterglow of a successful Mayoral Summit, I was booked in to help Sheri Womack of Nashville Job News with another big event at the Cool Springs Marriott. Nashville Job News has hosted a few highly attended (we're talking thousands, not hundreds) Job Fairs at LP Field, and decided to try it at Cool Springs. Unfortunately, these events are crowded with hopeful candidates with a variety of special talents and skills of all kinds who are looking for work of any kind.

My calendar was heavy that Wednesday morning, but I knew this was important and had to have representation. So I packed up our little two-wheel cart with Chamber Member Directories, info on the community, business cards, and of course, the free pens (ice-breaker to the stars and everyone below), and walked the 200 yards to the Marriott (thanking Jon Perry, Former Chairman of our Board for finding us this oh-so-convenient office space).

Throngs of people, neatly dressed, freshly groomed, resumes in hopeful hands, nervous eyes darting in observatory mode, claiming their space in line. As I set up my table I wondered how I might fit in here. What can I do to help?

And as the first few wandered to my table and asked, "Do you have openings at the Chamber?", the answer came to me, "No, we don't have openings. There are only two paid employees at our small non-profit enterprise. What I DO have for you are CONNECTIONS."

Malcolm Gladwell explains in his second best seller, The Tipping Point that there are a few key people who are integral to social epidemics, i.e. moving the herd along the shifting curves of consumer behavior toward 1) acceptance and ultimately 2) desire to own a new product, idea, or service. They are Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen. Here's an excerpt from Wikipedia that explains it better than I, if you are interested in knowing more.

Connectors are the people who "link us up with the world ... people with a special gift for bringing the world together." They are "a handful of people with a truly extraordinary knack for making friends and acquaintances". Gladwell attributes the social success of Connectors to "their ability to span many different worlds as a function of something intrinsic to their personality, some combination of curiosity, self-confidence, sociability, and energy."

Mavens are "information specialists", or "people we rely upon to connect us with new information."^[9] They accumulate knowledge, especially about the marketplace, and know how to share it with others. "A Maven is someone who wants to solve other people's problems, generally by solving his own". Mavens start "word-of-mouth epidemics" due to their knowledge, social skills, and ability to communicate.

Salesmen are "persuaders", charismatic people with powerful negotiation skills. They tend to have an indefinable trait that goes beyond what they say, which makes others want to agree with them.

I'm a Connector. Standing there in the Marriott Convention Center with all those unemployed hopefuls, just wanting a chance to show someone how hard they will work, I ached to start talking to people and running them through my mental database of employers. It was as potent as letting loose Axel and
Titan (Franklin Police Dogs) to sniff out the dope. I was driven.

So dear members, dear readers of this fledging blog, here is the bottom line. I have met about 50 people who want to work. Several didn't make the cut of Marti's data base, but most did. It's not for me to judge who can help you. Rather, I have accumulated a small stack of resumes in multiple fields.

Some of these people had been employed at places like Gaylord Opryland or J.C. Penney for 12 years or more and had been cut due to belt-tightening. Some were Belmont grads, at entry level, confident that if given an interview, they could 'wow' any tough employer with their persuasive skills and youthful F.I.B. factor (that's Fire in the Belly, coined by my first manager in pharma sales).

The reward on Wednesday was mine. Hearing the stories of people displaced or impeded by the scary southward spiral of our economy ignited a want in me which led to What If? What if I could find a fit for just a few of these people? What if someone among my Chamber members needs someone who is highly qualified, eager for a chance and willing to be flexible. There must be a few matches out there that I can make.

With each person who came to my table as I turned to say, "Next", I thought of placements, of potential positions, of personal friends and business acquaintances who might be interested in knowing someone I'd only just met. So the resumes are with me, the memories are fresh. And you know where to find me.

You may get a call from me saying, "I thought of you Wednesday at the Job Fair when I met this person". Let's connect a few local wannaworks with a few local needaworkers.

One beautiful, well-suited African American lady, down-sized from a 12-year stint in HR with an impressive employer said to me, "Don't make me cry". To which I replied, "No ma'am. I want to make you smile. That's when you're dimples show. And that's what might get you hired."

I've been touched by those in want of an angel.

Make it a Great Week,

Marti at the Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce

615-771-1072

AXA Equitable Ribbon Cutting

2009-09-11T09:18:00.017-05:00

For Chamber Membership, Calendar of Events

Yesterday I had the pleasure of welcoming a new business into our Chamber community. AXA Advisors is a new neighbor of ours at 6040 Cool Springs Blvd. The organization moved here from West End Ave. and to say that John Parham and Co. are happy to live 5 minutes from their office is like telling you that I'm glad it's Friday.

No more traffic jams, no more disgruntled investment clients "who don't want to suffer West End to see their Financial Advisor", as one of the associates told me yesterday,

"people are happy to come to Cool Springs. Everyone knows where it is, they know how long it will take to get here, and they don't mind the trip."

That's a big deal! People have choices. And being headquartered in Cool Springs is one that has made this organization smile. Meet them, welcome them and get to know this team. Awesome folks, happy with their careers, and all shouting "MONY" instead of "Cheese"...that's what makes us smile!

Thanks to Chamber Board member Teresa White, Member Mack Bentley, Ambassadors Jan Dillard and Elizabeth Mefferd, for joining Leah and me at the Ribbon Cutting yesterday.

We also took a moment to recognize Jan Dillard AGLA who brought in a new member yesterday and was presented her $100 check at the AXA celebration. Go Jan...make some Christmas Cash!

2009-09-07T12:27:00.004-05:00

Mayoral Summit

2009-08-26T17:35:00.004-05:00

The Greater Cool Springs Chamber will once again host a very popular event here in Middle Tennessee. On September the 8th at the Cool Springs Marriott, the mayors of Nashville, Franklin, Williamson Co and Brentwood will make themselves available in a public forum to discuss current economic and regional business issues.

Karl Dean, John Schroer, Rogers Anderson, and Betsy Crossley will share their views and opinions answering previously submitted questions from the Chamber membership, the media, and the general public. If you'd like to submit a question, please send it to leah@greatercoolsprings.com.

The Event will be a regular breakfast meeting of the Cool Springs Chamber. Registration and breakfast begin at 7:00, with the Mayoral Summit starting at 8:00. Members with reservations - $18, members without reservations - $25, and Guests $25.

The Greater Cool Springs Chamber extends a friendly invitation of membership to all area businesses, small and large. Our mission is to promote economic growth and act as a voice connecting businesses, families, government and community.

To join the Chamber or make reservations for the event go to www.greatercoolsprings.com.
For chatter and tweets visit us on Facebook and Twitter @gr8rcoolsprings

Cool Springs Chamber Photography Contest

2009-08-21T16:00:00.004-05:00

Have Fun, Get Involved, Win a Free Year's Membership!

Hello GCSCC! I'm three weeks into my new job with the Chamber. It's been a bit wild so far, learning about the past, the future, and all the different programming needs, committees, officers, etc. Leah and I are working hard to see that there is no gap in service during my transition. And I am very excited to be a part of the organization.

There is a problem however...and one that is easy to fix.

The office walls are in need of some "Memberabilia". YOU, the Greater Cool Springs Chamber Businesses need to be visually represented here at 720 Cool Springs Blvd.

So I am proposing a GCSCC Photography Contest! That's right. You have until October 22nd to get your entries in. If there is a shutterbug in your organization, now is the time to let his/her light shine! If you want names of amateur photogs who'd like to help you, just let me know.

The Gameplan
Send us a photo that represents your business. It can be anything you like...and creativity counts. It might be the entire building exterior, a recognizable part of the building, a logo, a group photo, an action shot of what goes on there, etc. You are limited only by your imagination. Just be sure that it is recognizable somehow that this is a photo of your business/organization.

Uniform Framing Rules:
These photos will be used to decorate the offices of the Chamber's front office and the Board Room. It is very important that they be of the same size and have very similar framing.

All entries must be 11" x 13" prints
Black and White or Color are acceptable
Use a 3" mat (3" showing) - preferably white
Frame with a simple black frame no more that one and one half inches wide.

Entries will be displayed and judging will occur at the October 22nd Mixer/Tailgate Party at RCM iSurf, 1616 Westgate Circle. The winners will be announced at our last mixer of the year, the Holiday Party at the Chamber offices.

Winners will be awarded in three categories:
Best corporate business

Best small business
Best corporate business
Best retail business

Winners receive a Free Membership for 2010.

Good Luck!

Marti Veto, President and Chief Blogging Officer
Greater Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce

Beyond Networking: Finding the WIIFM (What's in it For Me?) that Works

2009-08-16T10:20:00.001-05:00

Okay, so you've swapped about 20 cards last Tuesday at the Chamber Breakfast. Now what?

Do they get tossed into the pile in your desk drawer and forgotten? Maybe you'll look through the stack someday when you need a specific service like a new dentist or when you update your website and need a "tech'y" person. But is that what you intended to do? Probably not.

Let's say you went to the chamber breakfast hoping to (any combination):

Learn something
Teach something
Meet people
Socialize
See and be seen
Network
Build relationships
Promote your business

What if....? You went through the cards and picked out 3 that likely need something you have (goods or service, connections, etc.) Now pick out 3 that might have something you, your family or your business use or need.

Now you have six cards in your short stack.

Check out their websites.
Get a sense of the 'personality' of the brand each has created for itself. This will help you determine if this is a 'fit' with your business style and philosophies.
Now, look at the name and title on the card in your hand. Who did you meet? If this is not the most appropriate person for you to work with, it is at the very least a starting place. Tailor your conversation/message accordingly.

Think: Spend 1-2 minutes thinking about what you'd like to sell to this person or how you'd like to benefit from networking with 'him/her'. But don't stop there. Next ask yourself, "What would this person likely want in return for doing business with me?" Now you are getting involved in a mutually beneficial way that may actually cause something to happen.

Act: Pick up the phone or send an email to the name on the card. Ask to meet for coffee or lunch. "Hey, it was a pleasure to meet you this morning, but we didn't have much time to get acquainted. Let's get together and see if we can support each other's business."

Remember: It's a two-way street. Offering to reciprocate by utilizing the contact's business (as well as asking him/her to use yours) is the only way to answer their "WIIFM".

Follow-Up: Send a follow-up email to make an appointment for a brief visit at the office/store/shop. Remember that 'Time is Money". Being openly courteous of one another's time means having an appointment, being succinct, and minimizing the distraction of the staff. Everyone appreciates a professional approach.

Now you have taken 'networking' to the next level. Reaching out to your Chamber contacts advances the exchange of business cards to becoming acquainted.

Congratulations! You've taken the first step in building a relationship that may result in a loyal customer, and quite possibly a new friend.

Make it a great week!