CHAMBER logo3

 

  Your Chamber Connection

 06.28.2011
In This Issue

 

  • Chamber Focus
  • New Members
  • Eggs & Issues
  • Business Expo July 21
  • Free Marketing Seminar
  • Business After Hours
  • Montgomery Co. Redistricting
  • Heritage Hall Blood Drive
  • Events & Happenings
  • Communications
  • Contact Us 
New Members

 

Inkspot
801 University City Blvd.  Ste. 3
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Brett Bolinsky
(540) 552-5858
Ink Cartridge Refill

Averett University
108 North Jefferson St.
Roanoke, VA 24016
John Fridley
(434) 489-9193
Schools & Universities
 
Shared Success LLC
804 Petra Pass
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Christine Lewis
(540) 808-8674
Health Products

 

Feeding America Southwest
Virginia
1025 Electric Road
Salem, VA 24153
Jenny Doud
(540) 342-3011
Organization/Association/Non-Profits
  
Chamber Focus

 

We listened! Last year was our first big expansion of the Business Expo and we received so many great comments, for everything that you liked as well as suggestions, and ideas for what you like to see changed.  This year's Business Expo is July 21st at the Inn at Virginia Tech - with larger space and additional educational seminars!  Booth reservations are going fast so please call and reserve yours today.  This event is intended to be primarily a business to business networking event and a consumer event.  We will have more radio promotion and do more to drive traffic to the event.  We ask that you use your communication channels to promote this event too. If you have questions or want to make reservations, call Diana at 540.552.2636. 

 

My personal thanks go out to all of you who participated by purchasing pizzas from Domino's on June 8th!  Thanks to Kevin Shaw, PTO/PTA, Chamber Members and Chamber Ambassadors we were able to give $2,012.45 for the Commit to Graduate program in one day! Awesome!  Check our facebook page for photos of Ms. Blackburn, Kevin Shaw and the Build Community committee members who came to the check presentation.  The good news from Ms. Blackburn is that she will be able to purchase bracelets for the Commit to Graduate program for all MCPS children in K-12 --- this exceeded our expectations. What a great community!!

 

BrendaOn a personal note, I was so honored last week, along with Brenda Eanes of Allstate, to receive the Business Woman of the Year from American Business Women's Association of the New River Valley.  This is an amazing group of women and I am delighted to have been recognized by them.  Diana, Lanny, and I are working hard to focus on member value and we are seeing the results of our efforts.  You are very important to us!

 

Joyce and Ivan Beliveau are amazing hosts and the Business After Hours last week was wonderful. If you have not had a chance to go to Maison Beliveau, the lavinder is in bloom and is beautiful!

  

Catherine 

 

 

 Featured Member  ~ AT&T

 

ATT logo

 Being Wireless Savvy is Good Business for Small Business

 

Wireless devices and services represent some of the most critical technologies for U.S. small businesses. In fact, a recent study commissioned by AT&T revealed that virtually all (96%) small businesses use wireless technologies as part of their operations, and nearly two-thirds of small businesses could not survive - or it would be a major challenge to survive - without wireless technologies.

 

Bottom line: Anytime, anywhere connection is critical to success for small businesses, so wireless devices become a lifeline - helping them juggle personal and business needs while on the run. For many, their wireless device becomes an "office in their pocket," enhancing productivity and enabling them to take their business wherever they go, whether it be a client meeting or a family vacation.

As they grow, they often need to extend capabilities to more employees and implement more advanced applications, which enable small businesses to improve productivity and maximize efficiencies. There are many innovative mobile applications to meet business needs, everything from sending and receiving e-mail and browsing the Internet to remote time sheet entry and fleet management solutions that offer navigation and tracking capabilities, helping drive efficiencies and reduce fuel costs.   Some key mobile applications include:

  

o        Fleet management to keep mobile workforces connected to the information they need, enhancing fleet efficiencies for small businesses and improving customer service.

o        Field service automation gives field-based employees real-time access to work orders, parts lists, and other essential back-office information.

o        Sales force automation provides field based employees with key information, including contact information and history, sales lead tracking system, sales forecasting, order management and product knowledge.

o        GPS Locator applications provide real-time visibility into the location of mobile workforces.

 

For those small businesses that are not sure which mobile apps are best for them, AT&T offers a free easy to use online resource via its Small Business Mobile Application Recommender Tool (SMART), which can be found by visiting www.att.com/smart. The tool allows business owners to build a business profile by selecting from a list of industries, mobile worker types, and mobile devices of interest, and then indicate which of several different functions they would like to be able to perform.  Based on that input, the tool returns a list of recommended business solutions.

 

AT&T provides 24/7 customer care and dedicated small business wireless specialists, who know how to connect productivity needs with solutions. In addition, the company offers group discounts on devices and service plans that provide small businesses with the access and the expertise that growing businesses need to most effectively use wireless services.

 

AT&T also provides the nation's fastest mobile broadband network to ensure business can be conducted at the speed needed in today's competitive environment, and the largest Wi-Fi network with more than 24,000 hot spots in the U.S. and more than 135,000 worldwide.  Some key Wireless from AT&T offerings include:

 

Smartphones Increase Productivity

Staying Efficient While Mobile

 

Global positioning systems- Instead of buying a separate global positioning system device for your car, you can download GPS software into your handheld device. Most applications, such as Google Maps  let you get directions to your destination and map your route, while others are able to receive real-time traffic data to circumvent slowdowns. (Some are geared toward more pleasure-oriented pursuits, such as using GPS data to map golf course greens and bunkers.)

 

Payment processing- When on business travel, you don't want bills to pile up on your desk. Stay on the good side of creditors with mobile bill payment applications that work with financial institutions including CitiBank, Bank of America, and e*Trade.

 

Smart plans- There are plenty of competitive calling and data plans out there and reduced overseas calling rates for customers in Europe, Mexico or anywhere. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, providing access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in more than 200 countries.

 

Faster, Faster- Don't forget many smartphones and laptops are Wi-Fi capable. AT&T's Wi-Fi network includes more than 24,000 U.S. hotspots - like retail stores, restaurants and airports from coast-to-coast.

 

How AT&T Can Help?  Stop by your local AT&T store at Spradlin Farm Shopping Center on Spradlin Farm Drive in Christiansburg. Specially trained associates can give expert guidance in determining which AT&T wireless devices, mobile broadband plans or mobile applications best suit your specific business needs.

 

Stay in touch with your business wherever it takes you with AT&T. Learn more

 

 

eggs

 

    

    Join us:  July 7, 2011

       Lucie Monroe's Coffee & Tea

  1600 Roanoke St. Christiansburg

              Time:  7:30-9:00 a.m

   Members $15 ~ Non-Members $20

Mayor Cburg

 

 

Guest Speaker: Christiansburg Mayor Richard Ballengee

 

 Sponsored By:

!st Bank

 

 

 

150 Peppers Ferry Rd. N.W.

  Christiansburg, VA  24073

  540.260.9060

  www.firstbank.com  

 

 

Due to limited seating, reservations are required!

Call 540.552.2636 to reserve your seat!

 

Business Expo

What:  Business Expo

When: July 21, 2011

Where:  The Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center

Time: 2:00 -7:30 p.m.

 

 

What a great way to promote your business face-to-face to the public, other area businesses and the Chamber membership! The Vendor fee is $125 for existing members and $200 for Non-Members.  A limited amount of Expo Sponsorships are available for $1,000.

 

New to the 2011 Expo- Join Virginia Tech Career Services, Manpower & BAE Systems to find out what jobs are available & sign up for job placement services on the spot!
  

Did someone say Seminar? 

 

There will be 4 FREE seminars throughout the day in conjunction with the Expo! 

  • Constant Contact
  • Social Media
  • Career Services-How to hire and be hired through the Hokie Nation
  • VA Department of Business Assistance- How to sell goods & services to the State of Virginia 

 expo form

 

Thank you to Maison Beliveau for hosting the June Business After Hours!
 

June 2011 BAH pics 

072011 BAH  

May 2011 FBT ad

VCOM Graduation

 

vcom 2011 classVCOM's Fifth Commencement was held in Burruss Hall on the campus of Virginia Tech on June 4, 2011.  The Commencement speaker  was Dr. Barbara Walker, who has excelled in the field of Osteopathic Medicine.  In addition to her D.O. degree, Dr. Walker was a Colonel in the United States Army, serving her country from 1984 through her retirement in 2006.  She was among the first group of women to sit on the Board of Directors for the American Osteopathic Association and, was the first female physician and only grandmother physician deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia.  Walker provided inspiration to the new graduates as they enter the medical profession as physicians in the new era of healthcare reform. 

 

During the Commencement procession, VCOM faculty formed a welcome circle to recognize the graduates as future colleagues and to celebrate their accomplishments.  After the conclusion of the ceremony, a receiving line was formed by administration and faculty on the steps of Burruss Hall.  The week's activities included a Dinner, Picnic, and Military Promotion Ceremony.  The Dinner was held in VCOM's newest Building, a 48,000 square foot building housing classroom and research space.  The Graduate Picnic was held at the new VCOM amphitheater and 27 graduates were honored at the Military Promotion Ceremony. 

 

June's graduation marks the fifth ceremony for the 8 year old medical school and the addition of the newest alumni, bringing the total to 753.  In August, VCOM will enroll 175 new students  on the Virginia Campus and will enroll its Inaugural Class of 150 new students on the Carolinas Campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

  

 
greenbrier flyer2

   

Want a fun, economical way to get to the Greenbrier Classic Golf Tournament?

 

There will be buses running from Blacksburg to the Greenbrier Resort daily from July 25-31, for the Greenbier Classic and the concerts associated with the event (Tim McGraw, Black Eyed Peas, and Keith Urban). Anyone interested in tickets &/or transportation, please visit www.Blacksburg2Greenbrier.com 

 

 

View the Flyer Here

Montgomery County Redistricting - The U.S. Justice Department has approved Montgomery County's redistricting plan based upon the 2010 U.S. Census. 

 

Read More Here 

Montgomery County Christmas Store  - "A true sense of community occurs when we share with each other in meaningful ways."   - John Spicer    

 

Christmas store logo

 

 

View message from John Spicer about the Christmas Store 

 

holodec

                     

Blood Drive image
 

 

Heritage  Hall Nursing Home is conducting a blood drive on June 8, 2011 and is in need of participants! 

 

Where:  Heritage Hall Nursing Home

Time: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Contact: Erin McKeon - emckeon@ahc.cc  

 

events image 3  

~ Chamber Events Calendar

~ Blacksburg Calendar of Events 
~ Downtown Blacksburg Events
  
Wiki After 5 ~ Wikiteria Market & Cafe will host a Wiki After 5 Bash on June 24, 2011 from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. $5.00 covers food and music for adults. Children under 12 are free.

   

Montgomery County Park & Rec ~ Click here for the Park & Rec. Guide  

 

 live concert series

 

vt arts 2011

 

   market square jam logo

  

 

The Townof Blacksburg  kicked off Market Square Jam on Tuesday nights from 7-11pm in Market Square Park.   

 

At the Market Square Jam on any given Tuesday, musicians gather together to pick a tune, enjoy some fun times with their friends and family and take in all that downtown Blacksburg has to offer; beautiful green gathering spaces, timber frame market stalls, comfortable benches where you just might meet your next best friend, old homes rich in history, and a vibe that keeps you coming back.

 

 

Click here for more information

 

Sidewalk Stage logo

 

The Town of Blacksburg rolled out Sidewalk Stage as a way to encourage performers & artists to show off their talents. Changes have been made to the application process and with five designated downtown locations, spaces are now first come first serve. Artists are allowed to perform up to three hours any time between 10 am-10pm. For more information about the program or to apply visit www.blacksburg.gov/sidewalkstage

 

For more information, click here

The next Chamber mailer will go out July 6, 2011.  If you have  something you would like to include, please drop it off at the Chamber office no later than July 5th. 

 

                     

       Member Highlights          Find us on Facebook        New Chamber Website  

 

Chamber QR Code

 

Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

103 Professional Park Drive

Blacksburg, VA  24060

p: 540.552.2636   ~  f: 540.552.2639

Email:  Chamber

Web: Montgomerycc.org