Business Connections, December 2023

Newsletter

The Shelby County Chamber BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

December ‘23 Chamber Events 5 Ambassador Work Group 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM The Shelby County Chamber 6 Career Readiness Workgroup 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM The Shelby County Chamber 6 Small Business Work Group 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM The Shelby County Chamber

Shelby County Diamond Awards – Connections Luncheon The Diamond Awards Luncheon, which is scheduled for Dec. 7, will be a special time to recognize the “best of the best” for their daily contributions to Shelby County’s outstanding quality of life. The Diamond Awards, presented in 2023 by Shelby County Reporter, are designed to honor those organizations and individuals who help make Shelby County the best place to live and do business in our state. There will be one recipient recognized in each of the following categories: “Non-Profit,” “Public Servant” and “Citizen of the Year.”

The awards program will take place in the Grande Hall at Old Mill Square in Columbiana. Register by noon on Dec. 5 at shelbychamber.org.

7 Connections Luncheon “Annual Diamond Awards” 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Grande Hall @ Old Mill Square 12 Holiday CoffeeNET with Montevallo Chamber 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM TBD 13 Women’s Business Council 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Corbin Farms Winery 14 Governmental Affairs Workgroup 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM Sain Assocaites 14 Tourism & Recreation 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM via ZOOM 25 Chamber Office Closed 26 Chamber Office Closed

2024 Shelby County Business Outlook Survey Your Chamber is teaming up again this year with the University of Montevallo’s Stephens College of Business to determine what Shelby County business people think our local 2024 business outlook will look be.

To do that, be on the lookout for the 2024 Shelby County Business Climate Survey developed by the Chamber’s Small Business Work Group and Dr. Amiee Mellon, Dean, Chair and Associate Professor of Business at the Stephens College of Business to provide important feedback on business issues affecting your company in 2024.

For information on Chamber work groups and how to get involved, visit shelbychamber.org or email info@ shelbychamber.org.

1301 COUNTY SERVICES DR.

PELHAM, AL, 35124

Feel the Cheer of the Holiday Season at Indigo Cafe and Bar December 12 Chamber Holiday CoffeeNET The Montevallo Chamber of Commerce and The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce are collaborating on a holiday chamber CoffeeNET event to celebrate the holiday season at Indigo Cafe and Bar. Bring plenty of business cards, and come ready to

make some serious business contacts from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Reservations are required, so please register via email at jordan@shelbychamber.org, by phone at 205-663-4542 or online at shelbychamber.org by noon on Dec. 8.

As you’re planning your organization’s promotional budget for 2024, don’t forget the cost-effective opportunities available through sponsorships of Chamber events. With a variety of program options, there is a way to promote

and market your business to fellow business owners and decision-makers. Those options include monthly luncheons, business networking programs (CoffeeNET, Business After Hours, NETWORK280) workshops and seminars and

more. For a complete list of sponsorship opportunities available—and the investment— contact any member of the Chamber staff by calling 205-663-4542 or email info@shelbychamber.org.

Newsletter

Promoting Your Business in 2024

Newsletter

Ambassador of the Month Nikita ‘Niki’ Mathews is a branch manager and certified credit union financial counselor with Alabama Credit Union. She also sits on the Young Professionals Board for the League of Southeastern Credit Unions, and she is a Shelby County Ambassador. Niki is an active member of the Shelby County Women’s Business Council amongst many other community and professionals engagements, too. One of the many ways she lives out the shared values and core behaviors of Alabama Credit Union is to remain active in her community, to promote financial education and to be an advocate for members and potential members, who are looking for a financial institution where they feel like home. With her 17 years of banking experience, Niki continues to empower her team to do community service and look for ways to show Alabama Credit Union’s commitment to “helping members feel good about

Presenting Sponsor

their money.” As a way to continue learning and leading, she has recently started to get certified to become a sign language interpreter to offer a better banking experience to members who are hard of hearing. She loves creating a positive impression and encourages anyone she meets to bank with a credit union.

Her slogan, “Anything a bank can do—we can do better,” references the superior member

service offered at Alabama Credit Union. If you are looking for a new place to call “home,” Niki would love for you to consider Alabama Credit Union by visiting alabamacu.com or by contacting her directly at nmathews@alabamacu.com or 205-777-0938.

It’s building a life on your terms personal.

Building a business takes a trusted partner. Hossein Eshghi, owner of HE Construction, found that at AmFirst. When Hossein ventured into construction and home remodeling, he needed reliable business checking and great rates on equipment loans.

AmFirst was happy to support him. Because HE Construction is more than just a business. It’s personal.

amfirst.org/business

F i n d U s O n l i ne

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

|

Access our investor directory

2023 TSCC Officers and Board of Directors (as of 11/07/23) OFFICERS (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE) Chamber Chair April Harry Warren, Averett, LLC Chair-Elect Kevin Morris America’s First Federal Credit Union Vice Chair, Business Development & Support Rux Bentley Rux Carter Insurance Vice Chair, Communications & Marketing Jeff Purvis A. C. Legg, Inc. Vice Chair, Community & Career Development Amiee Mellon University of Montevallo Vice Chair, Finance & Administration John Collier Progress Bank Vice Chair, Governmental Affairs Melissa Dixon CDI Janitorial Services Vice Chair, Investor Relations Keith Brown Jefferson State Community College

Immediate Past Chair Mechelle Wilder ARC Realty

Chris Wilder Sealing Equipment Products Company

DIRECTORS

Josh Coker Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

Traci Fox T Fox SalonSpa Kimberly L. Jackson Alabama Power Company

Julie Godfrey Shelby County Instructional Services Center

William Norwood PNC

Scott Gossett Spire Alabama

Benji Sawyer Sawyer Solutions, LLC

Wade Kallaher Birmingham Coca Cola Bottling Company

Chad Scroggins Shelby County Teresa Vick Regions

Keith Strickland Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood Terri Williams A T & T - Alabama

Holly Dean Shelby Baptist Medical Center

Tampia Anderson The Arc of Shelby County

Meribeth Gilbert McLeod Software

Ken Delgreco Urban Home Market

Bruce Gouin Express Employment Professionals

Alec Etheredge Shelby County Newspapers, Inc.

Nedra Moore Creations Galore and Moore

Micah McLaughlin Irons Media Group

Chris Stricklin Dunn Companies

205 - 663 - 4542

New Investors

(September 16-October 13, 2023) -2065 Wealth Management -People’s Bank of Alabama

Your Chamber at work September 16-October 13, 2023 - Responded to 51 requests for business and community information.

Promoting Chamber investors as well as Chamber and community events through the following social media outlets: - Chamber Facebook: 23 “new follows,” 1,296 photo views,” 4,616 “post reaches” and 6,955 “total followers” - X (Twitter): 7 “tweets,” 587 “tweet impressions,” 23 “profile visits” and 2,961 “followers” - Instagram: 1,690 “followers” - LinkedIn: 950 (8 new) “followers,” 216 “search appearances,” 70 “unique visitors” and 72 “post impressions” -WBC Facebook: 509 “followers” and 118 “post reaches”

The Hon. Brian Puckett (ExOfficio, SCMA) City of Helena Amy Sturdivant (Ex-Officio) 58 INC

SHELBYCHAMBER.ORG