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For Immediate RELEASE Contact: Darren L. Johnson 615-876-9634
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 the 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.
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. Also visit them online at http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org.
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For Immediate RELEASE Contact: Darren L. Johnson 615-876-9634
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. Also visit them online at http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org.
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For Immediate RELEASE Contact: Darren L. Johnson 615-876-9634
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. Also visit them online at http://www.nashvilleblackchamber.org. End.
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For Immediate RELEASE Contact: Darren L. Johnson 615-876-9634
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
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2005 Releases
November 9, 2005 Coffee Talk Nashville
September 12, 2005 Katrina In Nashville - Nashville Black Chamber Sets Up Relief Fund...
August 26, 2005 Nashville Black Chamber - New Leadership, New Direction
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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
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