Nashville Black Chamber Concludes Its 10th Year - With A Success
DECEMBER 16, 2008 - NASHVILLE, TN
If you attended the Nashville Black Chamber’s last membership meeting on December 9, 2008, then you will understand these words used to describe it: excitement, hopeful, optimistic, prepared, and growing. What do all of those words have in common? The future of the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce and what its members will experience in 2009.
According to Board Chair Roxianne Bethune, “I believe the meeting was a big success. Those who attended are serious about growing their businesses and that is a big part of our mission; to assist in the development of our members by providing opportunities for growth.”
The Black Chamber claims that its members have a lot to be excited, hopeful, and optimistic about since the plan for 2009 is to increase the activities and events offered. “We have planned committees and involved members who will help to propel us forward in 2009 and beyond,” says Board Chair elect Amber D. Gooding.
With ten years of existence under its belt, in 2005 the organization took two steps back to restructure. In 2006 and 2007 it spent time partnering with other organizations, and in 2008 time was spent assessing its progress. Now, with all of this ammunition – 2009 promises to be a fast moving, well orchestrated effort to increase membership and offer more developmental events such as the business development webinar series that began this month. Each month, its members will be able to participate in webinars specifically designed to support the growth and development of small businesses. This caliber of member support will continue throughout 2009.
If you are interested in penetrating into a market that will provide inroads into the Black business community of Nashville, then joining the Black Chamber is one way to accomplish that goal. If you are interested in connecting with Black business professionals and owners on various levels, then getting involved with the Black Chamber as a member will be a benefit for you. What ever your business goal, according to Bethune, you can assist in its accomplishment by joining this organization, that is celebrating its 10th year of existence this year.
Look for more about the Nashville Black Chamber’s 2009 Annual Plan in the coming weeks.
The Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and professionals whose mission is to economically empower the African American community through promotion, education, and the advancement of its businesses and their partners. For more information call 615-876-9634 or email at info@nashvilleblackchamber.org. Also visit them online at http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org
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For Immediate RELEASE
Nashville Black Chamber Continues To Support Coffee Talk Nashville
NOVEMBER 17, 2008 NASHVILLE, TN
Three years ago, almost to the date, the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce met with two young ladies to talked about a networking event that was just getting started. Today, that event, known as Coffee Talk Nashville, is quite the success thanks to the hard work and dedication of one of its co-founders Nicole Dunigan. This event became one of the premier morning networking events in Nashville with the help and support of the Black Chamber. On Thursday, November 20, 2008 Coffee Talk Nashville will honor its 2008 sponsors with a special event.
“Coffee Talk is so very important to the business community in Nashville. Not just to Black business owners, but to all business owners and professionals,” says Black Chamber Board Chair Roxianne Bethune. One of the Chambers major foundational pillars is to provide opportunities for its members to market their businesses. “Coffee Talk Nashville offers a chance for one to come to one location and share the service or product with those in attendance with one on one sharing.”
There have been times when there were reportedly over 150 people in attendance, which indicates how much growth has occurred over the past three years. “When we got involved with this effort the average attendance was about 15-20 people. It has really experienced tremendous growth, says John Irvin, a director on the board and chair of the membership committee.
That growth is a direct result of the hard work of two co-founders of Coffee Talk Nashville. Nicole Dunigan, now the sole owner of Coffee Talk, has done a good job of marketing this event to the greater Nashville area and the proof of her efforts is in the outcome every month.
This month Coffee Talk Nashville will be honoring those who have sponsored the monthly event throughout 2008 in a special year end finale on Thursday, November 20, 2008. To learn more about Coffee Talk Nashville go to www.nashvilleblackchamber.org.
The Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and professionals whose mission is to economically empower the African American community through promotion, education, and the advancement of its businesses and their partners. For more information call 615-876-9634 or email at info@nashvilleblackchamber.org. Also visit them online at http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org.
For Immediate RELEASE
Nashville Black Chamber Announces New Board Chair – Roxianne Bethune
MARCH 21, 2007 NASHVILLE, TN
The Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce announced today that a new Board Chair has been elected. Roxianne Bethune, a native of Louisiana, who moved to Nashville in 1997 after having lived in New York, was elected Board Chair.
Bethune’s two-year reign as Board Chair began in January 2007 when Charles Sueing’s term ended as Chair. Sueing was Chair during the redesign of the Chamber in 2005 and 2006. According to Sueing, “We are now poised to take the organization to the next level, and Roxianne [Bethune] has the leadership capabilities to do it. She brings a wealth of experience to the table as Chair. I believe the Board has made a great decision.”
Bethune, who is the Minority & Small Business Liaison for Metro Government, is off to a flying start as the Board has already had its first strategic planning session. It has plans to disseminate a synopsis of a plan to its membership before the end of the second quarter of this year. “In order for us to become the resource organization of choice among our members, it is important for us to stay in touch with what they need, which is what we announced at our March membership meeting. A major focus for us in 2007 is increasing our membership base by a minimum of 25% by the end of this year.” Currently, the Black Chamber has under 300 people who receive member information via e-blasts sent each month and wants to grow that number.
Two important programs for 2007 are the Second Annual Luncheon and the quarterly Education Learning Sessions for members. The first of those sessions was held in March at the Bordeaux Library in Nashville when Jerron Barnes, a Chamber member and owner of Barnes Financial Services presented how business owners and professionals can better prepare for tax season. The Second Annual Luncheon will be held December 6, 2007 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Details for the 2007 calendar can be found at http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org.
For Immediate RELEASE
Successful Luncheon Shows Growing Support For Nashville Black Chamber
DECEMBER 11, 2006 NASHVILLE, TN There is a good chance, if you attended the First Annual Luncheon of the Nashville Black Chamber last week, you stood in line to get in. The successful luncheon, sponsored in part by the Nashville City Club, was sold out with many last minute attendees waiting to be seated. The attendance was overwhelmingly supportive of the need for the Black Chamber in Nashvilles business community.
"Many people have asked about the need for a Black Chamber in Nashville. The attendance at our First Annual Luncheon demonstrates not only the need, but that people believe in its existence," says Darren L. Johnson, Interim President. Johnson was the main speaker during the event. He also led the organizations "two steps back" approach in 2005. During his presentation Johnson shared some of the results of the membership survey taken in 2005. "75% of those surveyed said networking was the major benefit. So we partnered with Coffee Talk Nashville to sponsor the monthly morning networking event in 2006. That is one of many examples of the membership speaking, and the Black Chamber listening."
The Black Chambers 2006 strategy was to take one step forward by partnering with other larger organizations such as the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tennessee State University (TSU), and the Nashville Area Chamber. In 2006, the Black Chamber quietly sponsored (along with others) the Music City Jazz & Blues Heritage Festival. "Our strategy was to move like a quite storm in the night," says Charles Sueing, Chair. "This way we were able to strategically develop new relationships that will benefit us down the road." Sueing also thanked the sponsors of this years luncheon who included BellSouth Telecommunications and HCA.
The highlight of this years luncheon was when Johnson presented a $2500 check to launch the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce Business Scholarship Fund at TSUs College of Business. The Chamber has vowed to double the amount given each year, over the next five years. The annual luncheon will be the signature event in which the check will be given to TSU.
Planned events for 2007 include the first annual golf tourney, quarterly educational learning sessions on various business topics, and bi-monthly membership meetings. The Second Annual Luncheon will be held December 4, 2007 at the Schernerhorn Symphony Center. Details for the 2007 calendar of events can be found at http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org.
The Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and professionals who supports its mission to economically empower the African American community through promotion, education, and the advancement of its businesses and their partners. For more information call 615-876-9634 or email at info@nashvilleblackchamber.org.For Immediate RELEASE
Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce Announces Its First Annual Luncheon
OCTOBER 23, 2006 NASHVILLE, TN - After two years of successfully implementing its "two-steps back" approach to re-structuring, the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce is stepping out to strut its stuff on December 5, 2006 with its First Annual Luncheon. This celebration of success will happen at the Nashville City Club from 11:30 until 1:00 p.m.
"This is a celebration of sorts," says Charles Sueing, Chair. "We have put a lot of time into preparing this organization to reach its peak level of performance. We have done our due diligence and are excited about the future. This luncheon is a way to celebrate and share this excitement with our members and the community."
According to Vic Lineweaver, a director on the Board, "This year has been successful in many ways for Nashville’s Black Chamber. We have adopted a highway, inducted HCA as our first member of the Chairman’s Circle, and successfully sponsored Coffee Talk Nashville." The membership of the Chamber is very diverse as well, though many believe that only black owned businesses can be members. "That is a myth. We welcome all businesses from all over middle Tennessee," says Lineweaver.
Since January of this year, the Black Chamber has increased its membership by over 60%. That is a significant increase and speaks to the need and interest for its existence in the community. The First Annual Luncheon at the City Club will be a celebration and uplifting of the accomplishments of the Black Chamber over the past two years. The public is invited. For more information visit the Chamber’s website at www.nashvilleblackchamber.org.
The Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce is an association of businesses and professionals whose mission is to economically empower the African American community through promotion, education, and the advancement of its businesses and their partners. For more information call 615-876-9634 or email at info@nashvilleblackchamber.org.
For Immediate RELEASE
Nashville Black Chamber Leads Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Effort: Volunteers encouraged to participate
JULY 28, 2006 NASHVILLE, TN - The Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) will launch a special highway cleanup effort in the 37218 zip code area on Saturday, August 5, 2006 from 9:00 a.m. and 12 noon.
Working with Nashville's "Adopt-A-Highway" program, the Black Chamber has targeted cleanup along the two-mile stretch of the road from Clarksville Highway (in front of the Northwest YWCA) on Ashland City Highway. Adrianne Tucker, the Chambers Fisk University intern, coordinated this effort. Tucker set up the day and organized all of the details for this historical event.
Charles Sueing, Chairman of the Board for the Nashville Black Chamber said, "We talk a lot about improving our communities. This cleanup effort speaks volumes to the people throughout the community and the city. This is a first-ever cleanup for the Chamber. We are taking an active approach to fostering a sense of our pride in the community."
Three community partners are confirmed to join the Adopt-a-Highway, cleanup-effort: YMCA, Bordeaux Library, and AmSouth Bank Volunteers interested in participating are asked to meet members of the Chamber at the Northwest YMCA parking lot at 8:45 a.m. on August 5.
WHAT:
Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup Along Ashland City Highway
DATE:
August 5, 2006
TIME: 9 a.m. 12 noon
Tracey Kinslow, Director of Membership, stated, "We encourage volunteers to join us in this historic clean-up effort and gladly invite anyone interested in learning more about the NBCC to join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Bordeaux Branch Library." Anyone who becomes a member of the Black Chamber will receive discounts for joining the Conventions & Visitors Bureau, the Nashville City Club, and much more.
The mission of the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce is to economically empower the Black community through the promotion, education, and advancement of its businesses, and their partners. For more information, contact the Chamber at (615) 876.9634.
NBCC encourages all voters to remember to go out and vote on August 3, 2006.
For Immediate RELEASE Contact: Darren L. Johnson 615-876-9634
Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce Offers Opportunity For Economic Growth By Sponsoring Coffee Talk Nashville
NASHVILLE, TN NOVEMBER 9, 2005 – If you are a coffee drinker, a business owner, and want to expand your customer base, then you need to experience Coffee Talk Nashville. On November 17, 2005 the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce will team up with Nicole Dunigan and Shanda Williams, to offer a networking event for the Black business community. It is happening at Kijiji Coffee House located on historic Jefferson Street.
Two young female professionals - Nicole Dunigan, a mortgage broker, and Shanda Williams, a real estate agent, founded Coffee Talk Nashville earlier this year. Although these two friends have careers of their own, they were looking for a way to assist in the coming together of Black business professionals without all the hoopla, alcohol, and smoky bars. Thus, Coffee Talk Nashville was born. It happens at 7:30 in the morning at Kijiji Coffee House on historic Jefferson Street. In 2006 with the Black Chamber as a sponsor, there will be a meeting each month.
“One of the three legs or pillars on which the Black Chamber stands is the advancement of businesses within the Black community. This event, which is an important and significant one, will allow our membership and the Black business community to contribute to and actively participate in fundamental economic development, says Darren L. Johnson, Interim President of the Nashville Black Chamber. This year, the Black Chamber has taken the time to re-design itself, a process that included relocating to northwest Nashville’s Bordeaux business community. “Now, we are ready to move forward and are excited about our 2006 calendar of events. Sponsoring Coffee Talk Nashville in 2006 is a big part of us contributing to the advancement and growth of small businesses,” says Johnson.
It is not just talk and coffee. There is also the “5 Minute Conversation” that these two savvy business professionals have trademarked along with the name Coffee Talk Nashville. If you are curious about what the “5 Minute Conversation” is, you must come by Kijiji Coffee House at 7:30 a.m. on November 17, 2005. Participating in this event will surely help the serious professional who wants to grow his/her customer base, make contacts for future business, and have access to decision makers and potential new customers. Coffee Talk Nashville is also a way to increase the circulation of the dollar within the Black community. “The dollar is not circulated nearly as much as it should be within the Black community. For some reason, we tend to go to other communities to spend our dollars when we should really bring the dollars back home to our own community. This is a way help do that,” says Johnson.
For more information about Coffee Talk Nashville call 615-876-9634 or visit the web site at http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org .
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The Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to provide economic empowerment in the Black community through the advancement, education, and promotion of businesses, and their partners. To learn more about the organization visit http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org or call 615-876-9634.
For Immediate Release
Katrina In Nashville– Nashville Black Chamber Sets Up Relief Fund To Support Its Members
NASHVILLE, TN SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 – “Hope is what is necessary and what we are offering” says Greg Beard, owner of the Essense Day Spa on Jefferson Street in Nashville, TN. Essense Day Spa opened its doors to the Katrina survivors upon the request of Connie Denell of 92Q. In an effort to support its members, the Greater Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce has created a relief fund at Citizens Bank.
It is called the Essense/92Q Relief Fund and is set up to offer financial assistance to those in need.
After going to Essense Day Spa to volunteer, Darren L. Johnson, Interim Executive Director of the Black Chamber wanted to offer some additional assistance to its members. “This is a community effort. Our role in this is simply to offer a way to pull dollars together to help continue this effort that Essense and 92Q started. We want this to extend beyond this crisis however,” says Johnson.
For those interested in contributing to the fund, please contact the Nashville Black Chamber at 615-876-9634. Tonya Buford is going to manage the fund, which will be used to pay for gas, transportation, food, rent for space to house the clothes, and any other expenses related specifically to this effort.
Another way to contribute is to attend the Nashville Black Chamber’s Annual Membership meeting. Minority business owners and members of the Nashville business community are encouraged to attend the Annual Membership meeting set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at the Essence Day Spa, 1511 Jefferson Street in Nashville. This historical meeting will be the official kick-off to a new direction for the Greater Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the GNBCC call 615-876-9634 or email them at info@nashvilleblackchamber.org. It is open to the public.
For Immediate Release
Greater Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce – New Leadership, New Direction
NASHVILLE, TN AUGUST 26, 2005 – “Two steps back, three steps forward.” The phrase has never been so applicable to an organization as it has been to the Greater Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce. Since January 2005, the Black Chamber has installed new board members, revised its mission, completed an organization audit, and relocated to 4121 Clarksville Pike, Suite 8, Nashville, TN 37218.
“After taking a long hard look at the organization, we decided that it was important to slow down, acknowledge those who have provided the foundation for this organization, and use that foundation as a springboard for moving forward,” says Darren L. Johnson, who offered to function as the Interim
Executive Director on March 7, 2005. Johnson, an organization development consultant and author, has helped lead the way for this new direction. Two major outcomes of revamping the Nashville Black Chamber are an organization audit and the new office location. “It is all a part of the new face for the Chamber. During the audit, our membership survey data proved to be a critical element in helping us rediscover the value of the Chamber, which will ultimately create future growth opportunities for the Black business community,” says Johnson.
Charles Sueing, Chairman of the Board for the Chamber has also played an integral part of Chamber’s new direction and mission, which is to “economically empower the African American community through the promotion, education, and advancement of its businesses, and their partners.” As the new Chairman, Sueing has provided the support, leadership, and the flexibility for the Chamber to take two steps back and apply Johnson’s inside out approach to its development. Sueing has been working diligently with the new 13 members Board, which includes Sherre Miller Bishop, Cathy Bender-Jackson, Alphonso Bodie, Vic Lineweaver, Hortense Price-Jones, and Tracey Kinslow. “We have a strong Board of Directors who are dedicated to our mission and are excited about this new direction,” says Sueing.
In taking two steps back, the Black Chamber has accomplished much in 2005. Currently, it is planning for the 2006 calendar year of activities. “This year it is necessary for the Black Chamber to be still and stay away from the public eye. Sometimes it is important to just be still, which applies to individuals and to organizations alike. Being still allows one to re-discover the purpose and meaning for existing and creates opportunity for growth & change,” says Johnson, whose six-month contract ends September 7, 2005. “We have decided to focus more on the needs of our membership. Our membership is asking for new development and new programs, and we will deliver,” says Sueing.
The Chamber’s Annual Membership meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at the Essence Day Spa, 1511 Jefferson Street in Nashville. The entire Nashville business community is invited to this historical meeting. It will be the official kick-off to a new direction for the [Greater] Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce. Minority business owners and members of the Nashville business community are encouraged to attend. For more information on the [Greater] Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce call 615-876-9634 or email them at info@nashvilleblackchamber.org.
*********************************************************************** The Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to provide economic empowerment in the Black community through the advancement, education, and promotion of businesses, and their partners. To learn more about the organization visit http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org or call 615-876-9634.