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Greetings!  

 

Get ready for a great week ahead!  It's national Small Business Week and we're celebrating with the business community in a very big way.

It's a week to reflect on the success of our Lowcountry small business community and a great opportunity for you to network with your peers and honor those businesses that set the benchmark for small business success.  It's also a great opportunity to learn from some of the best in business.  Tech Tuesday features social media expert Joel Kelly teaching participants how to maximize their social media marketing.  Bring your laptop or tablet because it's a hands-on experience.  The afternoon session is already full but there are still a few morning slots available.

He's been included on Inc.'s lists of fastest-growing businesses in the country for two consecutive years.  If you've put gas in your car at a Parker's lately, you know it's a rapidly growing enterprise and its founder and CEO Greg Parker will be our keynote speaker for our Small Business of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday.  We'll be announcing our Small Business of the Year, Successful Startup of the Year and honoring the Young Professional of the Year.

The week will culminate with a Business After Hours Bluffton Block Party you don't want to miss!  The event will be held outdoors at the chamber's Bluffton office courtyard and sponsored by Bluffton businesses group 46, Omega Graphics and Print and the Corner Perk Caf�.  Join us at the corner of May River Road and Hwy. 46 on Thursday for live music, complimentary beer and wine and great food provided by Captain Woody's.  There will be shuttle service leaving from the Hilton Head Island chamber office on Thursday if you'd prefer to leave the driving to someone else.  Reservations are required and limited so sign up today.  You can register for all Small Business Week events by clicking here.

I look forward to celebrating small business with you this week. Join us!


Sincerely, 

  

 

Bill Miles, IOM, CCE

President & CEO 

Follow Me On Twitter @MilesatChamber




USA Today's Top U.S. Island
10 Best Readers' Choice
VOTE: Hilton Head Island!   
 

USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards lists Hilton Head Island as a Best U.S. Island nominee.  Cast your vote today!   


Did you know:

Your chamber's Leadership and Jr. Leadership programs continue to thrive and grow, developing the Lowcountry's emerging leaders. 
Applications for the Leadership class of 2015 are being accepted through Friday, May 23rd.  Click here for more information. 
It's Chamber Small Business Week 
Learn, Network & Grow! 
May 19-23rd
 
TODAY!  Pork in the Parking Lot & More 
11:30 A.M.-1:30 P.M. 
See you today at Pork in the Parking Lot - member appreciation b
arbecue!

TUESDAY: Tech Tuesday 
12:00-1:00 P.M. Session Full!
New Session Added: 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Tech Tuesday's noon session has sold out!  In response to member requests, a second session has been added with speaker Joel Kelly, director of social strategy, Verb Interactive. Don't miss this opportunity!   Seating is limited. RSVP HERE

WEDNESDAY: Small Business of the Year Awards Luncheon
Limited Seating. Register Today!
Speaker Greg Parker, President & CEO, The Parker Companies, Parker's Convenience Stores 
11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. 

The chamber's Small Business Awards will be presented during the award luncheon at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort.

Come hear keynote speaker Greg Parker, president & CEO of The Parker Companies.  Parker's has been ranked among Inc.'s elite list of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S.  Join us and learn how his strategy for success can make a positive difference for you and your business.
Click Here to register.


THURSDAY: Business After Hours Bluffton Block Party!
5:30-7:00 P.M. 
Join us for a s
pecial Business After Hours-Bluffton Block Party celebration in Old Town Bluffton, at the chamber's Bluffton courtyard, hosted by group 46, Omega Graphics & Print and The Corner Perk Caf�.

Shuttle in Style! Motorcoach shuttle provided from the chamber's Hilton head Island office. All aboard at 5:15 p.m.  Return at 7p.m.  Limited seating. RSVP Today!

Enjoy a great Lowcountry evening with food by Captain Woody's, complimentary beer and wine and live music from the MUDDYCREEK band!
Casual networking and our Lowcounty setting, at the corner of Hwy. 46 and May River Road, make it the place to be! 
Click Here to register for Small Business Week events 
Chamber Bike & Dine Winner is...


Congratulations to Thomas Wade Smith for his creative entry in the #ChamberBikeAndDine selfie competition at Coligny's new unique bike rack by the fountain in the plaza.

The popular contest was a part of the 2nd annual Chamber Bike & Dine, sponsored by Coligny. 
Thomas wins a gift pack from Coligny Plaza merchants valued at $250!  
Thanks to everyone who sent in an entry.   
Leadership Class Unveils Wellness Fitness Trails
Jarvis Creek Park & Oscar J. Frazier Park 
Ribbon-Cuttings, Thursday, May 22
10:00 a.m. at Jarvis Creek Park, Hilton Head Island
2:00 p.m. at Oscar J. Frazier Park, Bluffton

The 2014 Chamber Leadership Class will hold two ribbon-cuttings on Thursday, May 22 to unveil their class project, the Public Recreational Outreach (PRO) Wellness Fitness Trails located at Jarvis Creek Park and Oscar Frazier Park.  

 

Each trail includes 10+ pieces of cross-training equipment, including a sit-up bench, pull-up bars and more.  Join the chamber's leadership class in celebrating the grand-opening of the two new PRO Wellness Fitness Trails, dedicated to promoting active, healthy lifestyles on Hilton Head Island and in the Town of Bluffton. 

Click Here for more information about Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Leadership.
May's Business After Hours Winners

Congratulations to the winners of Thursday's drawings at Business After Hours at Marleys Island Grille! 
  • $100 Visa Gift Card: Mary Trostal, Park Lane & Suites
  • 2 Tickets to the Arts Center's hit musical "9 to 5:" Sharon Cass, Timeless Interiors
  • SERG Restaurant Group Gift Certificate :Tim Golde, P.E., Alliance Consulting Engineers
  • 2 tickets to Business After Hours: Bluffton Block Party with reserved seats on limousine shuttle: Lisa Craver, Seacoast Insurance 

Interested in Leadership?
Be A Part of the Chamber Leadership Class of 2015 

Enhance your leadership skills and knowledge of Beaufort County by becoming a part of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program
 
Applications for the leadership class of 2015 are now being accepted. Developing leaders for more than 25 years, the leadership program is an in-depth, educational program that focuses on culture, history, environment, economics and civics of the Lowcountry area.

Class selection is based on a written application and a personal interview. Applicants must have lived or worked in the area for a minimum of one year.
Deadline for the application and three reference forms is Friday, May 23.  
Click here for application information. 
Business After Hours 
NEO 
Thursday, June 19 
5:30-7:00 p.m. 

June's Business After Hours heads to NEO for some casual summer networking on Thursday, June 19 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
 
Come enjoy NEO's fresh farm-to-table  specialties, along with complimentary beer and wine, a premier bourbon tasting, great door prizes and more!

The cost to attend is $10 for chamber members and $20 for non-members.
County Business License
Renewals Due 
 
Businesses that operate in the unincorporated areas of Beaufort County must renew their business licenses by May 31.  
Forms are available at www.bcgov.net. For more information contact the Beaufort County Business License Department at 843-255-2270.
SBA Webinars on the Affordable Care Act 
Presented in Partnership with Lowcountry SCORE
Thursdays, 2:00 p.m., April-May

The Small Business Administration, Small Business Majority, and the Lowcountry SCORE Chapter have teamed up for a free webinar series on the  Affordable Care Act and what it means for small businesses and their employees. The webinars are offered every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. through the end of May.

Topics covered include:
  • How to enroll in small business health insurance marketplaces
  • Insurance Reforms
  • The small business health care tax credit
  • Employer shared responsibility provisions 
Click Here  to register
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Advocacy in Action

This week your chamber will be attending the
following meetings on behalf of our members:

 

Monday, May 19

 

Town of Hilton Head Island

Town Council Mid-Year Update Workshop

9:00 -11:00 a.m.

 

Beaufort County

Finance Committee Meeting

2:00-4:00 p.m.

 Click here for full agenda

 

Beaufort County

Public Facilities Committee Meeting

4:00-6:00 p.m.

Click here for full agenda

 

Beaufort County

Capital Projects Sales Tax Commission Meeting

6:30-8:30 p.m.

 Click here for agenda

 

 

Tuesday, May 20  

 

Town of Hilton Head Island 
Town Council Meeting
4:00-6:00 p.m.
Click here for full agenda

Town of Hilton Head Island 
Public Hearing on TIF Amendment
5:00-7:00 p.m.


Town of Bluffton
Town Council Meeting
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Click here for agenda

Beaufort County
Beaufort County School Board Meeting
6:00-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 21

Town of Hilton Head Island
Planning Commission Meting
3:00-5:00 p.m.
 Click here for agenda

Town of Hilton Head Island
Town Council Budget Workshop
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Click here for full agenda


Meetings are subject to change. 
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 Quick Links
 




Chamber Calendar

May 19-23
Small Business Week
Monday: Pork in the Parking Lot
Tuesday: Tech Tuesday
Wednesday: Small Business Awards Luncheon with Keynote Speaker Greg Parker
Thursday: Business After Hours Bluffton Block Party!
Register for Events Here

May 28
Chamber Young Professionals
Corks, Bluffton
5:30-7:00 p.m.

June 2
Business Education
Partnership Committee
Chamber Headquarters
8:30 a.m.

June 4
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton
Leadership Class Graduation
Bear Creek Golf Club
Reception: 5:45 p.m.
Program: 6:15 p.m.

June 6
Government Affairs
 Committee Meeting
Chamber Headquarters
8:00 a.m.

June 17
Tech Tuesday
Chamber Headquarters
12:00-1:00 p.m.

June 19
Business After Hours
NEO Restaurant
Moss Creek Village
5:30-7:00 p.m.

June 27
Chamber Young
Professionals Group
Location TBD
5:30-7:00 p.m.



Did you know...  

on the chamber website:  
You can link to the
Career Resources Center
for the latest job openings

New Members

Orange Leaf
David Pierre
38 Shelter Cove Lane
Hilton Head Island
orangeleafyogurt.com

Whole Foods Market

Brett Peterson
50 Shelter Cove Plaza
Suite #R, Hilton Head Island
wholefoods.com

Gourmet Appliances
Jeremy Press
53 Persimmon Street
Suite 101, Bluffton
playandgourmet.com   

Ribbon-Cuttings

Tuesday, May 20
5:00 p.m. Ribbon-Cutting
5:00-8:00 p.m. Reception
Winslow Kitchen Studio
34 New Orleans Road
Hilton Head Island

Wednesday, May 21

5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting &
Grand Opening Ceremony
Segway of Hilton Head
33 Office Park Road Suite 215
Hilton Head Island


Thursday, May 22

 10:00 a.m. Ribbon Cutting
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Leadership Class
Dedication of Class Project at Jarvis Creek Park with ribbon-cuttings for Pavilion and Fitness Trail,
Hilton Head Island

Thursday, May 22
2:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Leadership Class
Dedication of Class Project
at Oscar Frazier Park, Bluffton

Thursday, May 22
5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting
& Grand Opening Ceremony
group 46
1323 May River Road
Bluffton
Immediately followed by
 Business After Hours Celebration
5:30-7:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 22
5:15 Ribbon-Cutting
Omega Graphics Direct
1323 May River Road
Bluffton

Immediately followed by
 Business After Hours Celebration
5:30-7:00 p.m.


Thursday, June 5
5:00 p.m. Ribbon-Cutting
Mike Reichenbach Chevrolet
10 University Parkway
Okatie

Thursday, June 12
10:00 a.m. Media Sneak Preview
& Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Coastal Carolina Hospital
Woman's Center
Tours & Reception to follow
1000 Medical Center Drive
Hardeeville 

Around Town...

Community Calendar



 

Community Calendar Highlights  

 

9 to 5: The Musical at The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina

 

USCB Athletics Fundraiser
Golf Tournament

Bluffton Farmers Market

Shelter Cove Park Farmers Market

Heritage Library & Coastal Discovery Speaker: Thomas C. Barnwell

Putting For Patriots at Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf
 
  6th Annual Hilton Head Island
Art Festival

 

 

Click Here for a full listing  

of what's happening this week

in the community:

 

Click Here to submit

your event to the Chamber Community Calendar:

 

Click Here to submit

your event to the  

Visitor & Convention

Bureau Calendar 


Reach Your Audience:

The Chamber Monday Morning Briefing and our
Chamber Business Monthly publication offer business members a great opportunity to reach their core audience. Sponsorship and advertising rates for these outlets are very reasonable.

If you'd like to find out more,
please contact Anne Feldman at