Chamber Business Showcase

On Thursday, October 8th, Chamber member businesses set up in the upper and lower levels of The Mall at Johnson City during the Chamber’s Annual Business Showcase. The following businesses participated: Administrative Resources Inc., American Red Cross Blood Services, Andrew Johnson Bank, Appalachian Christian Village, Bank of America, Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City / Washington County, Cartridge World, CASA of Northeast Tennessee, Christian Care Center of Johnson City, Comfort Suites, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of East TN, Consumer Credit Union, East Tennessee State University, Eastman Credit Union, Embarq, Free Will Baptist Family Ministries, The Haven at Knob Creek, Holiday Inn Johnson City, Holiday Lanes, Johnson City Development Authority / Friends of Olde Downtowne, Johnson City Eye Clinic, Johnson City Federal Credit Union, Johnson City Power Board, Jones Chiropractic Clinic, Just-In-Time Professionals / Stewart & Associates, King College, Lakebridge Health Care Center, Life Care Center of Gray, Milligan College, People’s Community Bank, PostNet, Rodefer Moss & Company PLLC, Second Harvest Food Bank, Snap Fitness, Soleus Massage, Sophisticated Smiles ~ Angela Cameron, Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House Charities, Staff Pro, Stage Right Home Staging & Design LLC, State of Franklin Bank, State of Franklin Real Estate, SunTrust Bank, Time & Pay, Tri-Cities Christian Schools, The Trophy Shop Inc., TruPoint Bank, Tusculum College Graduate & Professional Studies, United Way of Washington County TN Inc., and others.

Taste of Johnson City Successful

The 27th Annual Taste of Johnson City was another successful event with 27 restaurants and beverage distributors participating. Special thanks to the following for their involvement in this event: Aramark, Café Lola, Cherokee Distributing Company, Chew Chew Café, Chocolate Elegance LLC, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Domaine Napa Wine Company, Earth Fare, Fanatics, Holiday Inn Reflections Restaurant, Holston Distributing Company, Jason’s Deli, LeBleu of Tri-Cities, Marble Slab Creamery, The Millennium Centre, Numan’s Café, Pepsi Bottling Group, Rita’s Italian Ice & Old Fashioned Custard, Russo’s, Stir Fry Café, Texas Roadhouse, Tipton Street Pub, Triple “C” Distributing, Troutdale at Johnson City Country Club, Unique Treasures Coffee Emporium & Café, Wellington’s at The Carnegie, and Windy City Red Hots.

Centennial Advisory Group Update

Centennial Advisory Group members are Chamber members who have voluntarily doubled their annual investment to allow for ongoing technological upgrades, capital improvements, program support, and staff professional development. This is an enhanced level of membership that provides your business special opportunities for marketing and networking. Special thanks to our 2009 Centennial Advisory Group members: Blue Moon Properties, Bristol Motor Speedway, Broyles Florist, Cardiovascular Associates, Charter Communications, KBM Commercial Properties, Chuck Mason Equipment Sales, The Millennium Centre, United Way of Washington County TN Inc., and Wilson Pharmacy, Inc. If your business is interested in information on this program, contact Heather Clever, 461-8004, clever@johnsoncitytnchamber.com

ETSU Pride Community Showcase

Thirty-six Chamber member businesses participated in the Annual ETSU Pride Community Showcase on Wednesday, September 2nd, at ETSU. Special thanks to the following companies: Advanced Call Center Technologies, Agape Women’s Services, American Red Cross NE TN, Bank of America, Bank of Tennessee, Bays Mountain Park, BB&T, Cartridge World, Charter Communications, Citi, Citizens Bank, Comcast Cable, Earth Fare, Eastman Credit Union, Embarq, Fanatics / Doubletree Hotel, Firehouse Restaurant, First Tennessee Bank, Food City, Green Bank, JC Federal Credit Union, JC Power Board, JC Press, Jones Chiropractic Clinic, Kroger, Mahoney’s, McDonald’s, Mountain States Health Alliance, National Kidney Foundation, Purelife Chiropractic, Regions Bank, Rita’s Italian Ice, Sam’s Club, State Farm Insurance / Harold Dishner Agent, T-Mobile, and Wal-Mart Super Center.

Leadership 2015 Participants Announced

Our 2009-2010 Leadership class is underway, with the following business leaders participating: Jason Ardito - First Tennessee Bank; Travis C. Bauguess - Saratoga Technologies; Teresa Bowman - People’s Community Bank; MeLissa Crockett - Blackburn, Childers, & Steagall, PLC; Rachel Gossett - Appalachia Service Project; Jill Grayson - Mountain States Health Alliance; Lora W. Groce - City of Johnson City; Kristen Hincher - Bank of America; Donna Hopson – GreenBank; Jan Jacobson - Summit Leadership Foundation; Candace Jennings - Mountain States Health Alliance; Carly Johnson - Eastern Eight CDC; B. J. King - East Tennessee State University; Linda McConnell - James H. Quillen VA Medical Center; Robert McKinney - Eastman Chemical Company; Tom W. Moore - ETSU College of Business & Technology; Chad Parker - SunTrust Bank; Dave Quick - Right Way Marketing; Pete S. Roller - Bank of Tennessee; Whitney Sangid - Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House; Angela G. Shrewsbury - Johnson City Power Board; Rhajon Smith - Milligan College; Tanya Tisor - State of Franklin Bank; Brian Turner - Aerojet Ordnance Tennessee; Lauri Turpin - Nuclear Fuel Systems; and Kristina Twitty - C & S Partnerships.

Youth Leadership Participants Announced

The following high school students are participating in the 2009-1020 Youth Leadership Program, co-sponsored by Milligan College, Citizens Bank, King College, Green Bank, and Summit Leadership Foundation: Science Hill High School: Akina Anand, McCartney N. Andrews, John Kemble Bolton, Stephen Bonfardin, Graham Boone, Palmer Cantler, Michael A. Conflenti, BreAnda Conley, Jade Conley, Katie Darden, Reed Darden, Sierra Alexis Galloway, Todd P. Gilmore, Marsha J. Girish, Walker Hale, Lauren K. Holden, Greyson B. Janeway, Cody W. Jones, Dominick Lundberg, Zach Lundberg, Sarah L. Nimrichter, Stephanie Lauderdale, David Lilly, JaBrian Perry, Lia Perry, Nick Poland, Geoffrey Hayden Smith, Owen Thigpen, Raquel Andreina Velasco and Travis Welch; Daniel Boone High School: Makayla Bennett and Destiny Roberts; David Crockett High School: Cody M. Day; University School: Marcus D. Counts Jr. and Kalin Estes; and Providence Academy: Meredith C. Eldridge.

Special thanks to our 2009-2010 Steering Committee: Jeff Brunson, Building Confident Leaders, Co-Chair; Dave McAuley, Summit Leadership Foundation; David Quick, Right Way Marketing, Co-Chair; Chuck Shearer, Cartridge World; Haley Wherry, First Priority of America Mironda White, D&S Dental, LLC; Daniel Day, Fun Expedition; Allison Stewart – BCTI and Greg King, King College.

Christmas Parade

Mark your calendar for Friday, December 4th, for the Annual Christmas Parade in conjunction with Downtown Johnson City’s First Friday Celebration. It will be an evening parade with a new route – contact The Chamber, 461-8000, to request an application.

Sponsors Needed for Chamber Educational Programs

The Chamber Foundation currently manages three educational programs – Imagination Library, TN Scholars, and Youth Leadership. All three programs enhance the skills of our young people, better preparing them for a future in school or the workplace. These programs require continual financial support from our businesses and the community and we would welcome your involvement. If interested in more detail, please contact Elisa, 461-8006, or Barbara, 461-8011, for more information.

Another Regionally Exclusive Store Opens in the Mall at Johnson City

“Forever” just moved a little closer for shoppers at The Mall at Johnson City with the grand opening festivities scheduled for Saturday, August 15 of XXI Forever, a popular fashion apparel and accessory retailer.

The addition is seen as a success for the area market and the mall itself. “We are thrilled to add XXI Forever into the dynamic mix of retailers at The Mall at Johnson City,” said Tembra Aldridge, General Manager of The Mall at Johnson City. “It is one of our most requested stores and we are thrilled to give our shoppers what they have requested. In addition, we are very pleased to have the only XXI Forever in our region.”

XXI Forever will occupy more than 20,000 square feet on the upper level. Specializing in offering its style-conscious and trend-savvy shoppers the most current fashions for the greatest value, the store offers an exciting and spacious shopping environment with a variety of merchandise.

“You don’t have to be 21 to shop at our stores,” said Jessica Quinn, District Manager. “In fact, more than one-third of our shoppers are older than 24 because we offer our customers so many different styles and brands.”

The store will house three of the retailer’s concepts: Forever 21 apparel and accessories, Twelve by Twelve, a couture line, and Heritage 1981, a lifestyle brand for men and women. XXI Forever stores are located in major cities across the country, with the closest stores located in Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA.

A phenomenon in the fashion world, the chain is one of the few fashion retailers to expand in the current economic market, a move fueled by shoppers’ hunger for reasonably priced, stylish fashion.

The arrival of XXI Forever in the newly remodeled west wing is part of the next phase of improvements and additions to The Mall at Johnson City. In the last two years, the mall has added DICK’S Sporting Goods, aerie and Yankee Candle, expanded JCPenney and opened new stores for Bath and Body Works and Victoria’s Secret. The recently remodeled wing features new public restrooms, new floors and ceilings, lighting updates and other details which give the mall a fresh environment in which to showcase the new stores and exciting retail offerings. In addition, shoppers will find easier access to the mall with the opening of a new grand entrance off Roan Street onto Shoppers Lane.

“The market fundamentals in Johnson City in recent years have attracted a strong and vibrant retail following,” said Marshall Loeb, President and COO of Glimcher Realty Trust, owner of the mall. “The Mall at Johnson City has been a leader among the retail venues in the region for many years, and we want to continue to enhance the center’s position in the marketplace.”

Saratoga Technologies Recognized on the Everything Channel Fast Growth 100 List

Saratoga Technologies, recently announced that it has been ranked #77 on Everything Channel’s Fast Growth 100 list. The Fast Growth 100 recognizes the fastest growing Solution Providers in the industry today, with growth rates in excess of 55 percent.  Saratoga Technologies averaged 73% growth from 2006-2008.

“Our tremendous growth is evidence that this region is filled with dynamic and growing companies that are competing globally and winning,” said David Temple, president of Saratoga. “We are committed to providing world class service and technology solutions that work.“

Robert C. DeMarzo, senior vice president and editorial director for Everything Channel editorial, said, “The companies that are included on the Fast Growth 100 are channel industry leaders.  They offer business-oriented IT consulting and work closely with their customers to integrate multivendor IT solutions as well as cutting-edge technologies. In addition, they understand the importance of strong sales philosophies.  We congratulate Saratoga Technologies on their well-earned success.”

The Fast Growth 100 has an average two-year revenue growth (‘06-’08) of 87 percent, and average annual sales of products and services of $198.2 million.  To be eligible for the 2009 Fast Growth 100, companies must be an IT solution provider; be based in the U.S.; have had net sales of at least $1,000,000 in calendar year 2006; and be an independent company.

The Fast Growth 100 rank is based on two years’ growth of net sales from calendar year 2006 to calendar year 2008. Net sales were verified by public filings when possible. All private companies provided a signed affidavit attesting to the accuracy of the reported 2006 and 2008 net sales figures or accountant-reviewed financials or audited financials. Affidavits were signed by an owner or officer of the company or by a CPA representing the company.  Affidavits and financials are on file in Manhasset, NY.

About Saratoga Technologies:
Saratoga Technologies is an information technology solutions company that offers products, software, services and solutions that are focused on enabling their customers to benefit from technology. Having offices in Johnson City, Knoxville and Pigeon Forge, TN as well as Abingdon, VA, Saratoga specializes in managed computer networking services, printer/copier repair, telephone systems, accounting software such as Microsoft Dynamics GP, Sage MAS 90 / 200 and Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, web design, application development, and other technical services.

Saratoga Technologies was named a finalist of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Saratoga Technologies was named a finalist of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the Nation's highest recognition given to American employers of National Guard or Reserve members for their exceptional support above the requirements of federal law.

"Saratoga Technologies' being named a finalist for this award demonstrates your employees' appreciation for the exceptional leadership, support and personal devotion you provide to the National Guard and Reserve", said L. Gordon Summer, Jr., Executive Director of ESGR. "We are forever grateful for your understanding and recognition of our patriotic volunteers."

"We support the men and women who proudly serve their country and are happy to do all we can to help make their lives a little easier", said David Temple, president of Saratoga. "They are the true heroes and I am grateful for everything they have done to protect our freedom."

David Temple is the president of Saratoga Technologies and can be contacted directly at 423.956.4220 or david.temple@saratogaus.com