Small Business Council
The Chamber > Councils > Small Business Council
What is the Small Business Council?
The Greater Memphis Chamber launched the Small Business Council in 2007 especially geared toward the small and medium sized businesses. Of the more than 2,400 member businesses, roughly 90 percent of the membership has fewer than 100 employees. “The Greater Memphis Chamber values all of its members and wants to help businesses of all sizes,” says John Moore, President and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber.
What is the Vision of the Small Business Council?
The vision of the Small Business Council is to serve as the advocate for business by encouraging, supporting, recognizing and being a resource that enriches business practices within our community.
What We Do:
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Provide business education in areas such as IT, personnel, legal, etc.
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Create networking, sales and marketing opportunities among member businesses
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Provide governmental advocacy for small businesses
How do you get involved?
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All active members of the Greater Memphis Chamber are eligible to participate in the Small Business Council.
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All events will have a member rate and a non-member rate.
For more information on getting involved, email Amanda Edmundson at aedmundson@memphischamber.com.
Upcoming SBC Events
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SBC Programs
The Greater Memphis Chamber’s Small Business Council is rolling out the Advice on Tap Program asking business leaders not to drain the tap, but to keep it flowing for the next generation of business professionals. We want all businesses to thrive in Memphis not just some. This program will benefit advice-seekers tremendously. Advisees can look forward to gleaning stellar advice from some of the best in their industry, while simultaneously getting their business in front of bright business minds.
[Click here to learn more]
ChamberLinks
A resource that will give Chamber members access to contract and vendor opportunities, as well as qualifications and criteria for those opportunities.
We will get information from several different companies, city, county, and state on exactly what it takes to become a vendor for them. Information will include their procurement and bid processes, liability insurance requirements, contact person, etc.
Coming Summer of 2013
My Business Consultant Program
The My Business Consultant Program will be a 6-month mentoring program where veteran business leaders are paired with small business professionals for a minimum of 2 hours per month. This program provides an opportunity for successful business leaders to give back and a chance for small business professionals to get expert insight for their business.
This program is open to future members for a one-time fee of $250 which also includes a 6-month Chamber Membership. Once the 6-month mentoring program is over, if the mentee would like to continue their membership with the Chamber for the next 6 months, the program fee of $250 will be applied to the membership dues.
Coming Fall of 2013
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Get Help
Are you looking for help with your small business, but are not sure where to go? We have a complete list of local, regional, state and federal programs and resources to help small businesses in Memphis succeed and grow. Click Here for more information.
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Get Advice
You can take advantage of the broad range of professional experience brought to the table by the Small Business Council. Follow our "Small Business, Big Ideas" blog to hear from key contributors about a myriad of issues pertaining to starting and operating a small business. If you have a question, post it on our blog page. One of our successful contributors, or perhaps a fellow reader, might have just the answer you're looking for. Click Here to read our blog.
Blog Contributors:
VOSS GRAHAM
Sales & Small Business Ownership
Voss W. Graham is CEO and Senior Business Advisor for InnerActive Consulting Group Inc. He is known by his clients as "a knowledgeable partner who helps our team achieve business growth." He provides practical experience as a small business owner for over 29 years, yet is often engaged with Fortune 500 companies in the development of their people and business strategies.
KIMBERLY MEDLOCK
Time Management & Productivity
Productivity Expert Kimberly Medlock, widely known and appreciated for her down-to-earth, real-world solutions and delivery, is a speaker, trainer, coach and author who works with organizations that want happy, healthy and highly productive employees. Her qualifications and credentials include Registered Corporate Coach, Certified Professional Organizer and Microsoft Certified Outlook Specialist, her most cherished title is parent of three amazing kids. Learn more about Kim at kimberlymedlock.com.
JOEL MYERS
Human Resources
Joel Myers is a career Human Resources professional, with over 40 years in the field including 26 years in consulting. The Centre Group helps clients achieve success by “Leveraging the Human Spirit” within their organizations.
LEE STILL
Council Matters / Banking & Finance
Lee Still is SVP and Commercial Relationship Manager at Trust One Bank and serves as Chair of the Small Business Council of the Greater Memphis Chamber. Lee has a heart for small business and leverages his 18 years banking experience to be a resource to help small businesses be successful.
LORI TURNER-WILSON
Marketing & Public Relations
Lori Turner-Wilson is CEO and Founder of RedRover Company, a sales development, marketing and PR consulting firm. Lori works with companies large and small, from start-ups to mature organizations, to help them improve the productivity of their sales force and the return on their marketing investment. Lori writes a weekly syndicated column for the Daily News, Memphis News, Nashville Ledger, and Desoto Times, among others, titled “Guerrilla Sales & Marketing,” for which she won a 2011 Summit International Award and 2012 International Communicator Award.
JIM VAN DE VUURST
Web & Technology
Jim Van de Vuurst, having served as an IT Systems Administrator and Technical Consultant for SAP AG, has provided software consulting services for some of the largest coporations in the world including Ford Motor, IBM, Colgate-Palmolive, and Halliburton, just to name a few. He founded Vanick Digital in 2001, providing web development, mobile development, website design, and software integration services. Vanick Digital helps clients improve business results through the leveraging of web-based technologies.
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