Elaine Streno, the Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank of East TN, spoke with us about their mission, their programs, and how we can get involved. Second Harvest provides food to those in need for an 18-county region through a variety of organizations and program types.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett discussed the state of the county, with emphasis on the new budget, as well as answered questions from the membership. We had a great turnout, and look forward to more guests joining us next month, as well as some of our new and repeat guests becoming members!

Brian Hilliard provided tips and advice on using Facebook and LinkedIn to get more referrals and enhance word-of-mouth marketing.

Brian Hilliard, consultant on social media, talks with Jonathan Patrick, senior vice president of lending for UT Federal Credit Union, following the April meeting of the Fountain City Business and Professional Association.

Brian Hillard, is a popular speaker and author of the best-selling book Networking Like a Pro! and How to Overachieve without Over Committing. As a national speaker and creator of the program How to Market Your Business in Less Than 90 Days, Brian knows what it takes for busy entrepreneurs to get more business right away. Some of Brian’s work has appeared nationally in Black Enterprise, and the Martha Zoller Morning Show, where his interview was broadcast to over 2 million listeners. When not travelling, Brian spends time at home with his family.

Dr. Kevin Kragenbrink is partner and Head business Coach at Estrada Strategies. Dr. Kragenbrink has distinguished himself for more than 30 years as teacher, business coach, entrepreneur, church leader, consultant, and strategist. His background includes 6 years of military service, four years in large corporate organizations, more than 20 years in small business ownership and nearly 30 years in support of churches and other non-profit organizations. His record of success is matched by his passion to contribute to the success of the business owners and executives he now serves. By all accounts Dr. Kragenbrink is an inspirational, gregarious, and insightful speaker; a powerful business coach; an effective teacher and consultant; and a talented vocal performer. He is acclaimed by friends, colleagues and clients alike as a powerful, understanding, compassionate leader and motivator.

Kevin discussed how 3 local businesses have grown in a down economy by marketing more (not less), focusing on annual strategic planning, building a quality team and getting out of their comfort zone to grow personally and professionally.

Have you ever thought to yourself…. I’m just one person / one business. I can’t make a difference. My voice won’t be heard. If they would only change this policy…then I could… this meeting showed us just how the NFIB takes that one person, that one business and gives them a voice to be heard, and strength in numbers.

Mark Enix, owner of Fountain City Jewelers, speaks with Bob Headley following the Feb. 8 meeting. Headley is membership representative for the NFIB, a lobbying group for small businesses. Info: (865) 603-7576.

Bob Headley is the Member Rep. for the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business). The NFIB was founded in 1943 with the mission to protect the rights of small business owners, to own, operate, and grow their business. They lobby on behalf of small business on both state and federal issues. Then going further, they follow up, fight, and testify to make an impact of these issues. They have lobbying offices in all 50 state capitols and in Washington D.C. – For more information visit http://www.nfib.com/tennessee.

As chair of the Public Affairs committee of the Fountain City Business and Professional Association, I will nominate you if you’re interested. Just e-mail me at sclark426@aol.com ASAP.

Awards Categories

Impact Award
This award will be presented to a business that displays a commitment to making East Tennessee a better place to live through the development and support of a community project or program. The Impact Award winner should be able to demonstrate the ability to improve community conditions that make a significant contribution or impact on our region. Such contributions might include: improving education, improving healthcare, pursuing environmental excellence, performing community service, and influencing other organizations to partner for these purposes.

Innovator Award
This award will be given to a business that has developed a new technology, innovative product or service or applied a business process or service in an innovative way. The winner will be able to quantify its growth and provide a detailed explanation of the new product, service, process or system. Nominee should provide a description of implementing innovative solutions to achieve operational efficiency and business results.

Minority Business Excellence Award
This award will be presented to a minority-owned business which is independently-owned, operated and controlled by minority group members, defined as U.S. citizens who are Asian, Black, Hispanic or Native American. Ownership by minority individuals means the business is at least 51 percent owned by such
individuals and the management and daily operations are controlled by those minority group members.

Woman-Owned Business Excellence Award
This award will be presented to a successful East Tennessee woman-owned business which is independently-owned, operated and controlled by a female or females. The enterprise must be at least 51 percent owned by one or more women and its management and daily business operations must be controlled by one or more women.

Small Business Excellence Award
This award will be presented to an East Tennessee small business that has consistently grown
its workforce and revenue. Nominees should be businesses started in the Knoxville region and have 50 employees or less company-wide. The winner will be able to demonstrate its ability to overcome obstacles including access to capital, operational efficiency, control of expenses, customer loyalty and distribution of products or services and should provide a historical index of growth in revenues and workforce.

Business Excellence Award
Awarded to a company that has shown remarkable profitability, growth and stability. Nominees must be recognized regionally, nationally and/or internationally in their respective business sector, while demonstrating leadership in the sector as well. There will be two winners, one for companies with 51-150 employees company-wide and another for companies with 151+ employees company-wide.

Young Entrepreneur Award
This award will be presented to a young professional, 40 years of age or younger as of May 4, 2012, who has achieved success while overcoming obstacles, to become one of tomorrow’s top business leaders. The winner will have started or is at risk in ownership in their business. They will have taken their business practices and moved a company from early growth to some maturity.

SANDRA CLARK | Publisher, Shopper-News | Knoxville TN | Office: 865/ 342-6619 Cell: 865/ 661-8777

Eat Mor Chikin

The franchise owner, Marshall Wilkins, of a chicken restaurant known primarily for its cows, outlined principles that will work in any business.

“We’re in the people business, serving chicken; not in the chicken business, serving people,” said Marshall Wilkins. During tough times, focus on becoming more of who you are (rather than try to change) and work to create “raving fans” – customers who come often, tell others and are willing to pay full price.

“You do that and the sales will come; the profits will come,” he said.

Daniel Monday with Slamdot explained what you really needed to know about small business websites and other online marketing vehicles like Facebook, Twitter and so on. He discussed why you should be taking advantage of the Internet to market yourself and your company, without making it another full-time job. He discussed the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to websites, SEO and social media marketing.

Daniel Monday graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a focus in Journalism and Advertising, and joined Slamdot in the fall of 2005. Daniel has over 5 years of marketing experience, and loves people. Since starting with Slamdot he has moved from sales associate to Chief Operating Officer, working on business development, customer service and marketing. He was chosen by his peers as Knoxville Chamber Ambassador of the Year for 2010-2011.

Frank is co-host on the Marc, Kim, & Frank morning show on Star 102.1, he is co-host of Smoky Mountain Magazine on East Tennessee PBS, and he performs with the comedy improv group Einstein Simplified at Side Splitters Comedy Club. Additionally, Frank has become well known for his use of social media. He is a dedicated traveler, visiting all 50 states, incorporating the help of his social media. And he is a member of the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association and occasionally volunteers for Bone Zones, the group which facilitates public appearances for renowned forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Bass.

Full Biography:

On weekday mornings, Frank Murphy can be heard as a co-host of the Marc & Kim and Frank show on Star 102.1 in Knoxville. On Saturday mornings, he can be seen as co-host of Smoky Mountain Magazine on East Tennessee PBS. On Tuesday evenings, Frank can be found on stage with the comedy improv group Einstein Simplified at Side Splitters Comedy Club.

Frank has been using social media since 2005 when he started a daily blog atfrankmurphy.com. He can also be found on Facebook and he is active onTwitter as @FrankMurphyCom.

Frank is involved in the community as a volunteer for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and as a member of the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association. He also occasionally volunteers as emcee of various events for Bone Zones, the group which facilitates public appearances for renowned forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Bass.

Prior to moving to Tennessee, Frank worked at radio stations in Los Angeles and Washington, DC. He graduated from George Mason University, where he won the Senior of the Year award.

Frank and his wife have two adult children. Their daughter lives in the Washington, DC area and their son attends college in St. Louis.

For the past ten years, Frank has been gradually working toward his goal of visiting all 50 states. He reached his “final four” in the summer of 2011. In addition to traveling, Frank enjoys swimming, pop culture and dessert.

This was a special opportunity to meet and get to know our candidates. They were presented with 10 pre-selected questions, and had a short amount of time to answer, with everyone having an opportunity to respond.

You can learn more about the candidates below. Here are a few pictures:

Victoria DeFreese

DeFreese—an involved South Knox County resident and seasoned educator—is a fiscal and social conservative.

“In these tough times we need to get government off the backs of small businesses, empower highly qualified educators in the trenches at public schools, reclaim state power from federal overreach, and defend the Tennessee constitution against a state income tax. It is time for capitalism to reign and opportunities to flourish in Tennessee,” said DeFreese. “I want to be a voice for the middle class in the state senate.”

DeFreese’s experience in education makes her the best replacement for Jamie Woodson, the departing incumbent and past leader in education reform. Besides her degree in education, DeFreese has a wide array of hands-on educational experience as an instructor for Talented And Gifted (TAG), consultant for a British publisher, a home school instructor, a satellite school instructor, Johnson University adjunct instructor and guest speaker, a tutor, a proctor for standardized testing, assistant director at Shades Development, an assessment team member for a Title I Tutoring program, Writing Boot Camp Instructor, and a 6th grade Reading and Language teacher.

In addition to her education acumen, DeFreese has served on the Knox County Library Advisory Board, on the Transfer of Development Rights Land-Use Concept task force, as a Republican precinct delegate, and as an interim Knox County Commissioner. DeFreese is a woman dedicated to her family, her community, and the values of the 6th District: stimulating small businesses, empowering the most accomplished classroom teachers, preserving the state constitution, and eliminating wasteful government expenditures of tax dollars.

ABOUT VICTORIA DEFREESE

Victoria DeFreese was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. She graduated from Speedway Public High School and went to Johnson University in Knoxville, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.

For nearly 18 years, DeFreese has made her home in South Knoxville with her husband, Donald. She is the proud mother of three daughters and one son: Savannah, Isabelle, Marietta, and James, who are all enrolled in the Knox County school system. The DeFreeses enjoy hiking, camping, and spending time together with friends and family.

Becky Duncan Massey

Becky Duncan Massey is a candidate for the Tennessee State Senate seat in District 6 of Knox County. She will run in the Republican Primary on September 27, 2011.

Massey’s primary goal is to reduce the over abundance of government regulations and to increase the efficiency of state government so that more money will end up in our communities across the state. Some of her priorities will include: recruit new jobs to Tennessee, strengthen our educational system and prevent tax increases for our citizens.

Massey is the Executive Director of the non-profit Sertoma Center which serves over 100 adults who have intellectual disabilities. For 13 years, she has managed a staff of 160 people and balanced an annual $6,000,000 operational budget. She began at Sertoma in 1993 as the Marketing and Development Director and was promoted to Executive Director in 1998.

A native Knoxvillian, Massey received a BS in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. She has been married to Morton Massey for 35 years and they have two daughters – Courtney, 32 and Kristen, 29. Together, Morton and Becky coached a girls softball team for 22 years at Rocky Hill Ballpark where a field was named in their honor in 2000. The family has been members of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church for 34 years.

Active in the community, Massey is the President-Elect of Tennessee Community Organizations and has served on the board of directors of the Akima Club, U.T. Alumni, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Overlook Center and Dogwood Arts Festival. She was in the Leadership Knoxville Class of 2005, a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and on the Nine Counties One Vision Task Force. In 1992, she was Co-Chair of the Dogwood Arts Festival and a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

Massey understands the responsibilities of being a public servant. Her late father John J. Duncan, Sr. served as Mayor of Knoxville from 1959-1963 and as U.S. Representative from 1964-1988. Her brother John J. Duncan, Jr. followed in their Dad’s footsteps as U.S. Representative from 1988-present.

For more information visit the website at www.BeckyMassey.com. The campaign email address is:Becky.Massey@comcast.net or call 865-544-5228.

Marilyn Roddy

Marilyn has served the last seven years as at an At-Large member of Knoxville’s City Council, working closely with the Haslam Administration to bring growth and fiscal discipline to the City.   Marilyn can often be found at community events and meetings across Knox County.  Marilyn believes that leadership begins with listening.

Marilyn Chairs the City of Knoxville Audit Committee, is a member of the City Investment Advisory Board and has served as co-chair of the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Committee.  As a member of Council, she has focused on services and finances, the backbone of local government.

Marilyn is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a former third grade teacher.  She has been involved in the Knox County community for over 20 years.  She is immediate Past President of the Metropolitan Drug Commission and was Vice Chairman of the Legacy Parks Foundation.  She is a graduate of Leadership Knoxville, has served as her daughters’ elementary school PTA president and has been a member of the Ijams Nature Center Board of Directors.  Marilyn is an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, where she has served as a Sunday school teacher and leader.

Marilyn and Patrick Roddy have been married for over 25 years and are the parents of three daughters, ages 15, 19, and 22. They enjoy supporting their daughters’ many activities.