Alumni Tour of Coulter Grove Intermediate School

Thursday, March 1
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. 
  
A representative from Maryville City Schools will be on-hand.
Self-guided tour takes approximately 45 minutes. 
   
Post-tour Happy Hour at Aubrey’s   
 
Click here to RSVP

“How to Start and Finance a Business” will be presented by Jacqueline Merritt, Economic Development Specialist with the U. S. Small Business Administration, on Monday, February 13, at 7 p.m. at the Blount County Public Library.

Business planning is the foundation of starting a business, so the workshop will start with a pre business checklist.  To initiate the planning process, Merritt will introduce four main questions upon which entrepreneurs need to focus:

·         Where are you now?

·         Where do you want to go?

·         How do you plan to get there?

·         How will you know when you’re there?

These questions will revolve around the areas of money, management and marketing.

Characteristics of an entrepreneur will also be discussed, innate qualities that help to define success in starting and running a business.  Merritt will emphasize the importance of the team, and she will stress that individuals hire to their weaknesses as opposed to their strengths.  For example, everyone doesn’t need to be in sales because someone needs to be in the office handling payroll.

For Financing Your Business the SBA Way, the session will then transition into eligibility criteria for SBA loans inclusive of the 5 C’s of Credit (character, cash flow, collateral, capitalization and conditions).  After an overview of the SBA Loan Programs and the specific entrepreneurial need each one meets, the session will close with participants viewing a list of SBA lenders throughout the counties in Tennessee.

Jacqueline Merritt, the speaker for this workshop, has been employed with the Small Business Administration, since November 1989.  During her tenure with the federal government, Merritt served as a Business Opportunity Specialist for the 8(a) Business Development Division until February 2001.  In Merritt’s former capacity, she serviced East TN and Middle Tennessee 8(a) Companies.  Currently, Merritt is an Economic Development Specialist and is charged with marketing the agency’s programs and services in the East Tennessee area.

Free and open to the public, the program is at the Blount County Public Library, located at 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville.

For further information about library programs or services, call the library at 982-0981 or visit the Web site at www.blountlibrary.org .  To sign up to receive a monthly calendar by email, type in your email address under “Programs and Events” on the Home Page.  Also check out Facebook at “Blount County Public Library” and Twitter at “Blount_Library”.

We asked.  You spoke.  We listened.  Let’s act!

Here is one great comment we received: Perhaps recognize any graduate for their accomplishments – either through social media, a handwritten note or emails.  (I realize this is more staff time – there just aren’t enough hours in the day.)

We agree!  Highlighting our graduates is so important!  We try to keep up with articles in the paper, etc., but you can help!

If you know of a graduate being honored, receiving recognition, doing great work, please email the information to katherine@leadershipblount.com.  We will re-post on our social media, send a note of congratulations, etc. to the best of our staff’s ability.

Samples are in the Leadership Blount Office.  Call 865-984-9368 if you would like to see them.

In its thirteen year, the Community Leadership Award recognizes sustained leadership in a variety of community positions. Nominees are judged on the following criteria:

• Demonstrating a sustained commitment to leadership in Blount County
• Exercising leadership in a variety of community positions
• Helping to develop future community leaders
• Using leadership positions to promote the development of Blount County

The inaugural Youth Leadership Award recognizes a Blount County student (8^th – 12^th grade) whose actions reflect Leadership Blount’s commitment to service. Nomination forms should include specific information describing how the nominee is serving their community. Nominees for the Youth Leadership Award are judged on the following criteria:

• Demonstrating a commitment to community service in Blount County
• Serving the community in a variety of community organizations
• Showing leadership potential

Participation in Leadership Blount/Youth Leadership Blount is not a requirement for nomination.  Nomination forms are available at the Leadership Blount website www.leadershipblount.com.  Letters of nominations may be submitted to Leadership Blount at 502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804 or faxed to 865-984-6968. The deadline for submission is Wednesday, Feb. 29.

The recipients will be announced to local media in March and honored at a community breakfast to be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Friday, April 20 at First United Methodist Church. Reservations will be taken at a later date.  This event is open to the community.  Past Community Leadership Award honorees include: the late Harwell Proffitt, Tutt Bradford, Dean Stone, Sue Wyatt, Geraldine Upton, the late Joe Ingram, Gary Hensley, Joy Bishop, the late Fred Forster, Joe Dawson, Rick Shepard, and Doug Overbey.

 
What is your occupation? Deputy Director of Special Events at the City of Knoxville
 
What do you like to do when you are not working? I love to spend time at home and travel. Going on day trips are my favorite.
 
Family? I am married to Eddie Brewer and we have a 5 year old daughter Macey.
 
How long have you lived or worked in Blount County? 7 years
 
What has been your favorite part of Leadership Blount so far? Being able to meet with the directors of each school system.
 
What has been your biggest “WOW!” moment from your Leadership Blount experience so far? Discovering the many different opportunities to be able to help our community.
 
What one place should everyone visit in Blount County? I first discovered East Tennessee and Blount County as a tourist on vacation from out west. It was the beauty and kindness of the region that brought me back to live and have my family. The beauty of the Smoky Mountains and Cades Cove is what made me fall in the love with the area. The Smoky Mountains is the one place everyone should visit. It just might turn them into a resident.

Leadership Blount is currently taking applications for the Associate Executive Director position.  

This part-time (25 flexible hours/week) position manages the youth leadership program, oversees grant-writing, and administers financials for the organization.

Successful candidates should have computed-based financial management (Microsoft Office and Quicken) experience. Bachelor’s Degree and non-profit experience preferred.  This position does not include health insurance or benefits. 

Interested candidates should submit resume and letter of application by email to: applicant@leadershipblount.com.  Application deadline is February 3, 2012.

Sue Dawson, who will serve as the chair of the Leadership Blount selection committee for the Class of 2013, loves her mountaintop experiences. Whether she is walking in the Smokies or standing on top of the area’s landfill soaking up the view, she appreciates the beauty of the place she calls home.

“I don’t really hike, but I like walking in the mountains,” says Sue. “I have a group of friends who like to go walking, too, and it is one of my favorite past times.” Husband Joe Dawson, who retired in June of 2010 as chief administrator of Blount Memorial Hospital, also enjoys their time in the mountains as well as traveling since retirement.

“My favorite past time is spending time with my two grandchildren,” says Sue.

Sue and Joe have two married children, David and Jennifer Dawson of Maryville, who are parents to Savannah, 4, and Owen, 2; and Caroline and Tripp Smith of Nashville. As a community volunteer, Sue has seen both sides of community service.

“I had two entirely different careers,” says Sue. “I was a speech and language pathologist and worked for John Berry for years. During the time I was working and raising children, it was hard to find time to be a community volunteer. I was a member of Junior Service League and feel that was the impetus to getting me started doing community service.

“Then I was director of Keep Blount Beautiful for 10 years, and that was when I had the opportunity to be in Leadership Blount. Being the head of a non-profit, community organization really drove home the extreme value of those in the community who volunteer to help and give back. It really made me appreciate the value of being a community volunteer. I still do so appreciate how hard it is to make that commitment while you are working and raising a family, and I have such admiration for those who fit volunteering into their days.”

Here are the thoughts of Sue Dawson, this month’s Profile of Leadership:

How did your experience with Leadership Blount change you?

“Leadership Blount empowered me. It was a life-changing moment when I realized that I had a role and responsibility in the community.  Through Leadership Blount, I learned that those who were leading us were not necessarily extraordinary people but rather ordinary people like myself who were willing to work to make something in the community better.

“The second change was that my classmates evolved from being people whose names I recognized into being friends whom I cherish.”

What are you doing to facilitate change in Blount County?

“I am excited to be involved in a new effort underway in our community to structure a support base for our Recreation and Parks program.   Most recreation and parks programs are exclusively city-sponsored programs, but we have a unique program because we have a cooperative program between a county and two cities.  By combining our resources we can provide services to young and old without respect to economic status.  The support group will raise awareness of the value of the program as well as identify its needs.”

What experience from your year in Leadership Blount stands out the most?

“I think our visit to Nashville as a class was the most memorable for me.  My knowledge of the workings of state government was very limited.  I saw legislators as a faceless group given the honor of going to Nashville for somewhat ceremonial duties.  Our class sat in on a hearing related to enacting the helmet law, and I saw that enacting meaningful legislation required people from outside the Legislature courageously standing up and demanding action.  I gained a great respect for those who involve themselves in the legislative process. “

What was your “wow” moment from your year?

“My “wow” experience has a downward inflection.  I was disturbed after visiting the old Blount County jail.  I am proud that we now have a Justice Center that provides suitable and safe housing for our prisoners.”

Where is one place in Blount County that everyone should visit?

“I once had the unique opportunity to stand on the highest elevation in Blount County outside the national park.  That spot is at the top of the Alcoa-Maryville-Blount County landfill.  There is a 360 degree unobstructed view of Blount County from the Tennessee River to the Great Smoky Mountains. The weather was beautiful, and the air was clear.  We looked down on a panorama that spread out at least 40 miles.  It was exhilarating, but it was also humbling.  I became aware of the enormity of this beautiful piece of God’s earth that we Blount Countians share. I hope one day we will have a park there, and everyone will have the opportunity to stand on top of our world.”

Leadership Blount now begins the process of identifying a replacement for the Associate Executive Director position.  The search committee to fill the position includes Will Carver ’09, Chair; Katherine Best Caputo, Executive Director; Myra Hair ’10, Patti Clevenger ’08, Rick Shepard ’02, and Christy Newman ’09.

This part-time (25 flexible hours/week) position manages the youth leadership program, oversees grant-writing, and administers financials for the organization.

Successful candidates should have computed-based financial management (Microsoft Office and Quicken) experience. Bachelor’s Degree and non-profit experience preferred.  This position does not include health insurance or benefits. 

Interested candidates should submit resume and letter of application by email to: applicant@leadershipblount.com.  Application deadline is February 3, 2012.

Leadership Blount has worked with over 600 community-minded individuals to teach them more about the community in which they live and encourage them to take a more active role in community issues.  Nominees should have a sincere commitment and motivation to serve the community, as well as an exhibited demonstration of leadership abilities.  They should be individuals whose work, volunteer participation, and community service indicate they have a long-term commitment to Blount County’s quality of life.  All class members must also be willing to devote one full day per month (including two overnight sessions), as well as some required evening governmental meetings, and must have the full support of the organization or corporation they represent. 

Tuition for the program is $1,100.00; $110.00 of which must be paid by the participant personally.  This payment covers all fees and course materials, as well as most meals and transportation.  Optional or special activities may require additional costs.  A limited number of partial scholarships may be available for eligible candidates.

Nominations are being accepted until January 31 for the Class of 2013, and forms are available at the Leadership Blount website www.leadershipblount.com or by contacting the Leadership Blount office by phone at 984-9368 or by e-mail at office@leadershipblount.com.  The completed nomination form must be received in the Leadership Blount office no later than January 31, 2012.