TEMPE CHAMBER
ADVANTAGE SAVE THE DATE: 2016 Women in Business Conference Each year, this powerful event brings together hundreds of business leaders in a setting that celebrates success, facilitates network development and offers incredible opportunities for personal and business growth. A trade show featuring local and national organizations and businesses provides the backdrop to a luncheon and presentations by powerful keynote speakers. Themed “Reach, Achieve, Celebrate!” the event’s speakers deliver inspirational messages that touch on these elements and motivate each member of the audience to strive for fulfillment, happiness and success. Cary Pfeffer, an award winning reporter and news anchor, will emcee the program. Educational breakout sessions by Pfeffer and Jeff and Jodie Heisner of Bottomline Media Coaching take place in the morning. Keynote conversations by inspirational speakers follow and set the stage for the Business Woman of the Year celebration and award presentation. The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and includes a plated lunch. For more information, please visit www.tempechamber.org or call 480.967.7891.
2015 Business Woman of the Year Jodi Polanski with Tempe Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Mary Ann Miller
Wednesday, May 25 DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix - Tempe 2100 S. Priest Dr. $65 for Members | $99 for Guests Tables of 10 available Sponsorships now available Exhibitor Booths now available
Te m p e C h a m b e r. o r g
Spring 2O16 • tempechamber.org
Business Advocate … Not JUST the Title of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce’s Newsletter #truth By Brad Taylor, Special Moments Catering So what happens when your 5,000-square-foot commercial kitchen floor gets ripped up and the city denies your permit for construction unless you come up with an additional $30,000? Besides freak out … I’ll tell ya, you call Wonder Woman. Brad Taylor The holiday season was upon us in no time and as we put a close to our best year yet, we reveled in excitement for what was to come next. And then it happened … We call it the great flood of 2015. Routine dish washing started to yield massive flooding along our kitchen floors and all efforts to maintain a clean space were redirected to cleaning up countless gallons of water. Had it finally happened? Had the old grease trap separated its last load of grease and water before sending grease-free water to … well wherever the heck it goes? A quick visit from our plumber would conclude our fears were true. Our grease trap had gurgled its last gallon of commercial dish water. It was time to finally send it on its way and upgrade to a new unit. Ugh! This was going to be expensive. Had the Grinch stolen our Christmas? Indeed he had, but such is life as a business owner. So, sadly, we signed the contract and the large plumbing project began. Two days later we receive a rather panicked call from the plumbing company. “The permit we applied for was rejected, and worse yet the city is requiring an interceptor to be installed in order to approve the use of your grease trap.” Knowing little to nothing about plumbing, we asked, “Well, how much would that cost?” Expecting a rather nominal number, our hearts sank immediately with his response: “$20-$30,000 in addition to your current bill.” Needless to say, we were shocked, devastated, angry and confused. This was simply a replacement for a unit that had already been installed. How can this be? It had appeared the Grinch had stolen more than just Christmas. If this was the case, he had stolen our ability to operate, as by no means did we intend to invest $30,000, plus into a building we didn’t own. But wait …we just signed a five year lease …what choice did we have?! The Whos in Whoville were quite distraught and decided a town hall meeting of the elders was in order. The meeting room was quite grim as nobody really had much to say … except the elder Who, Al Taylor (CEO/owner). “I am going to call Mary Ann Miller (Wonder Woman) of the Chamber and get her involved,” was all he had to say as he got up to make his phone call. I Special Moments kitchen, Dec. 23, 2015 have to admit, my sister and I both thought the stress of the situation might have finally pushed him over the edge. That his marbles may have indeed been scattered beyond repair and this call was pointless. I mean, what in the world would the president of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce have to say about our permitting issue, especially two days before Christmas. [CONTINUED ON PAGE 6]
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