the gauge - microsoft · 2019. 5. 6. · the south from texas to d.c. sports series: biking amanda...
TRANSCRIPT
thegauge
spring 2019
a publication of the opelika chamber of commerce
www.opelikachamber.com
boardofdirectors thegauge
spring 2019
Brooke Kastner, Chair Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National
Carlton Hunley, IV, Chair - Elect Lambert Transfer & Storage
Bill Loosier, Vice - Chair Edward Jones Investments
John Story, Treasurer S & S Termite & Pest Control, LLC
Sheriff Jay Jones, Secretary Lee County Sheriff’s Department
Shey Knight, Past Chairman Autosport
Robyn Bridges Auburn Opelika Tourism Bureau
Amanda James James Bros. Bikes
Jeff Jerkins Bubba’s Medicine Shop
Malcolm Marshall McDonald’s Restaurants
Brandon Morgan KBK Writing Essentials
Shenetra Moses Baxter International
Dr. Mark Neighbors Opelika City Schools
Dr. Linda North Southern Union State Community College
Jerry Ray Southern Insurance Consultants
Jon Thompson Auburn University
Ronnie Wilson The Brown Agency
tabl
eofc
onte
nts
Vivian Anthony Office ManagerDinah Motley Marketing & Communications Mackenzie Kayler Programs & Events Pam Powers-Smith President Jill Robinson Membershipst
aff
Letter from the Chamber President & Board Chair
Business Over Breakfast (winter & spring)
Small Business of the Quarter (winter & spring)
Women’s Business Council
Here We Grow Again
Small Business Workshop
State of the City with Mayor Gary Fuller
US Chamber News
Calendar of Events
welcome
President Board Chair
Spring has sprung! And Opelika looks great! Every spring season is a busy one for everyone, and we here at the Chamber are excited to be keeping up with all of our businesses and all the community happenings. Don’t forget to check our community calendarinadditiontoourChambercalendaronour website at OpelikaChamber.com. Go visit it today, and youmightjustfindsomenewhelpfulthingsonthereforyourbusinessoryourfamily.
Speakingofbeingbusy,ourribboncuttingsfornewbusinessesareatanall-timehigh,andwhatwehopeisthatcitizensareenjoyingalloftheiroptionswhenitcomestobusinessandservicesinourcommunity.Formany,they’rerealizingthattheyhaveeverythingtheyneedattheirfingertipswithinjustacouplemilesoftheirhomes.Weencourageeveryonetogetoutand shop local and support those that have chosen to locate here and invest in our community. Andweinviteyoutoattendourribboncuttings.They’reagreatplacetomeetnewpeopleandmakeconnectionsallwhilesupportinganewbusinessowner.
WewillalsobesayinggoodbyeandgraduatingourstudentsofLeeCountyYoungLeadersand20Under40.Thesetwo leadershipprogramsresidewithintheChamber,andwestrivetoprovidegreatprogramming,learningandrelationshipbuilding.YoungLeadersisforhighschooljuniors,andthisprogramnotonlyexposesthemtomanydifferentcommunityentitiesandthewonderfulpeoplethatleadthem,butitalsoteachespracticalleadershipskillstocarrythemthroughouttherestoftheirlives.20Under40isforcityofOpelikacitizensundertheageof40andgivesparticipantstheopportunitytoseefirsthandhowthecityoperates.Theymakeconnectionswitheachcitydepartmentaswellasgothroughleadershiptraining.We’dlovetotellyoumore about both these programs if you’re interested.
Soaswegetreadytogointosummer,wehopeyou’llenjoyyourspringandkeepupwithusonallofoursocialmediaplatformssothatwecankeepyouinformedoffuneventshappeningrightnow.Andifyoufollowus,thenwe’llgetyoualltheinformationyou need throughout all the seasons of the year!
IftheChambercanbearesourceforyouoryourbusiness,pleasedon’thesitatetocallonusanytime.
www.opelikachamber.com
boardofdirectorsEx-Officio
Mayor Gary Fuller City of Opelika
Lori Huguley City of Opelika Economic Development
Billy Plummer S & S Termite & Pest Control LLC
www.opelikachamber.com
businessoverbreakfast
Dr. Mark Neighbors was the keynote speaker at the winter BusinessOverBreakfast.AgraduateofAuburnUniversity,Neighbors has been in the Opelika City School (OCS) system since 1991. HebeganasprincipaloftheOpelikaMiddleSchoolfor10years before becoming Assistant Superintendent under Dr. Phil Raley. In 2007,NeighborstookoverthereignsofSupertendentforOCS.
EducationrunsdeepinNeighbor’sfamily.Hisdadspent42yearsineducationandhismotherworkedwithspecialneedschildren,soheknowstheimportanceofagoodeducationfoundationthatleadstosuccess.
Neighbors covered several topics that are of interest in the communitysuchasfinances,teaching,educating,ACTscores,careerpaths, achievements and property tax renewal.
IfyouhaveanyquestionsaboutOCS,pleasecall334.745.9700orvisitwww.opelikaschools.org.
Presenting
Dr. Joe Sumners ExecutiveDirector
Government & Economic Development InstituteatAuburnUniversity
AnativeofHarpersville,Alabama,Dr.JoeSumnershasalmost30yearsofoutreachexperienceworkingwithcommunitiesandlocalgovernmentsinAlabama,with extensiveexperienceassistingcommunitieswithstrategicplanningandcivic engagementinitiatives.
Heisconsideredanexpertinthisfieldandhasauthorednumerouspublicationsonthetopicofruraleconomicandcommunitydevelopment,andspecificallythelinkbetween civic engagement and community economic prosperity.
HeservedasatechnicaladvisortotheAlabamaCommissiononTaxandFiscalPolicyReform,theAlabamaTaskForceonEconomicallyDistressedCounties,Alabama’sBlackBeltActionCommission,AlabamaRuralActionCommission,andAlabamaSmallBusinessTaskForce.HeisafoundingBoardmemberoftheAlabamaCommunitiesofExcellenceProgramandisontheBoardofDirectorsforMainStreetAlabamaandtheDavidMathewsCenterforCivicLife.
Dr. Mark NeighborsSuperintendent
Opelika City Schools
spon
sors
www.opelikachamber.com
smallbusinessofthequarter
Mrs. Story’s Dairy BarLeft to Right: Pam Powers-Smith, Chamber President; Brent Poteet, Opelika Power Services; sponsor of the award, Amber and Blake Boothe, Owners; Carlton Hunley, IV, Chamber Recognition Chair; and Brooke Kastner, Chamber Chair
Mrs. Story’s Dairy Bar
1900 Pepperell ParkwayOpelika, AL 36801
This charming restaurant has remained in a single family for 66 years. Their
chili hotdogs and milkshakes are both listed in the “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama!”
Chick-fil-A in Tiger Town
Chick-fil-A2052 Tiger Town Parkway
Opelika, AL 36801334.741.7112
www.chick-fil-a.com
Left to Right: Carlton Hunley, IV, Chamber Chair - Elect; Derek Lee, Opelika Power Services; Andrew Barnes, Chick-fil-A; and Pam Powers-Smith, Chamber President
Chick-fil-A is well known for their community involvement and
charitable giving. The Tiger Town location is the second-highest
Chick-fil-A in Alabama for sales volume.
Spon
sor
women’sbusinesscouncil
Keynote Luncheonwith Dominique Love
Entrepreneur, philanthropy expert and lover of food and drink – especially the Southern variety – DominiqueLovehasbuiltacareeronherpassionsfromworkingwithIWSCGroupNorthAmericatocommunity,andfoundingtheAtlantaFood&WineFestival. ApassionforcommunityandgivingbackledLovetoacareerinphilanthropy,whichincludedworkasafundraisingconsultantgeneratingmorethan70Mfornonprofitorganizations,leading corporatecontributionsandemployeeengagementforTheCoca-ColaCompany,andcreating CorporateCommunityOutsourcing(CCO),aphilanthropicconsultancythathelpedcorporationsandnonprofitsmaximizetheircommunityimpact.CCOcounted,amongothers,AmericanExpress
Publishing,TheCoca-ColaCompany,DeltaAirLines,NASCAR,NewellRubbermaid,andTimeWarnerasclients.
Loveandherbusinesspartner,ElizabethFeichter,foundedtheAtlantaFood&WineFestival.TheFestivaldebutedin2011asthefirstculinaryweekendinthenationdedicatedtoshininganinternationalspotlightontherichfoodandbeveragetraditionsoftheSouthfromTexastoD.C.
Sports Series: Biking Amanda James James Bros. BikesJohnF.Kennedysaid,“Nothingcomparestothesimplepleasureofridingabike.” How long has it beensinceyourodeabike?Well,bikingisn’tjustforyoungpeopleanymore.
AmandaJamesspoketoagroupofwomenoverbreakfastaboutridingbikes.Whetherforpleasureorexercise,bikingoffersasenseoffreedomandmobilitythathasmadeapopularcomebacktoday.
Amandadiscussedthemanydifferentbikesandtheirusage,theproperwaytorideabike,the safetyissues,andbikingclubs.Thisladies’groupevengottotryouttheirbicycleskills.
JamesBros.Bikesisafullservicebicycleshopspecializinginsales,serviceandrentals. TheyworkwithseveralentitiesincludingtheOpelikaBicycleAdvisoryCommitteeandtheMorris Avenue School program called bikology.
Get Healthy in 2019--------------Ride a Bike!
Spon
sor
www.opelikachamber.com
For more information about the Women’s Business Council, visit OpelikaChamber.com or call 334.745.5861.
BETTER BODIES MASSAGE INSTITUTE
THERAPYSOUTH
DYNA-LIFT
RESTING PULSE BREWING COMPANY
MIRACLE EAR
CRAFTMASTER PRINTERS, INC.
BETHESDA LEARNING ACADEMY
J. DEAN INSURANCE
THE WAREHOUSE BISTRO
HUGHSTON HOMES
EXPRESSIONS DESIGN GALLERY
GROOME TRANSPORTATION OF ALABAMA
OGLETREE DEAKINS
FIRING PIN SHOOTING SPORTS
SMG LAKE HARDING
TRU BY HILTON AUBURN
GREAT WOLF LODGE GEORGIA
HUGHSTON HOMES
SANDY WAGER HOMES, LLC TOLAND REALTY
PATSY EDGE WHITE HOMELINK REALTY
CAKEITECTURE BAKERY
LEDGER GREEN SOLUTIONS
EUROPEAN WAS CENTER
WELCOME new members .......................... January - April 2019
herewegrowagain
Big Blue Crawfish 2611PepperellParkway,Opelika
East University Veterinary Hospital 1675E.UniversityDrive,Auburn
Borland Benefield6749SocietyHillRoad,Opelika
TherapySouth 2701FrederickRoad,Opelika
Warehouse Bistro 105RocketAvenue,Opelika
El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant814 Geneva Street, Opelika
Onin Staffing2805FrederickRoad,Opelika
Staffing Connections 2107PepperellParkway,SuiteC,Opelika
Southern Union State Community College
1701LafayetteParkway,Opelika
First South Farm Credit 1613FrederickRoad,Opelika
www.opelikachamber.com
smallbusinessworkshopMAXIMIZE YOUR
CHAMBER MEMBERSHIPWouldn’tyouliketoknowhowtomakethemostoutofyourChambermembers?Apparentlymanydid,sotheOpelikaChamberstaffhostedaSmallBusinessWorkshop,”MaximizeYourChamberMembership”onMarch19attheOpelika-AuburnNews Community Room.
TheChamberhasmoreresources,opportunities,andbenefitsavailabletoitsmembersthaneverbefore.Thisvaluablework-shopcoveredmanytopicsincludingregistration,payingonline,marketingopportunities,committeessponsorships,publications,leadership programs and all the events that can help your business.
ContacttheChambertodayandletushelpyou“upyourgame”inyourbusiness!
herewegrowagain
O TOWN ICE CREAM
GRIFF GOODS
WHISTLE STOP BREW SHOP
HOMETOWN FURNITURE& APPLIANCE
FETCH ME DELIVERY
CENTER FOR VEIN RESTORATION
SIGN ESSENTIALS
WELCOME new members .......................... January - April 2019
Carswell Agency Group 2352PepperellParkway,Opelika
Stone Martin Builders Auburn Opelika Lifestyle Group
Rocky Brook Road, Opelika
Fetch Me Delivery 1500PumphreyAvenue,Auburn
Firing Pin Shooting Sports 2195FirstAvenue,Opelika
Resting Pulse Brewing Company 714FirstAvenue,Opelika
O Town Ice Cream 700SecondAvenue,Opelika
Griff Goods 719FirstAvenue,Opelika
www.opelikachamber.com
stateofthecity
Over300wereinattendencetohearOpelika’sMayorGaryFullerspeakattheChamber’sState of the City luncheon in February.
Fuller,whohasbeenmayorfor14years,expressedhisappreciationandgratitudeto those who years ago had the foresight to make decisions that would greatly impact our city today.
TheeconomicforecastforOpelikalooksbright.Hewashappytoreportthat“Opelika hasflourishedtobecomeonewithcuttingedgetechnologies,amazingdowntown amenities,avibrantworkforceandgoodjobopportunities.” Prosperityisevidencedbyourupwardtrendoverthepastfiveyears.TheCityhasseenagrowthinworldclasscompaniesthathaveinvestedmorethan$700millionandcreatedan
additional710goodpayingjobs.NewretaildevelopmentsarecurrentlyunderwayinTigerTown,PepperellParkway,USATownCenter,SaugahatcheeSquareandmore.“DowntownOpelika,whichistheheartbeatofourCity,hasbecomea destinationlocationforshopping,diningandentertainment,”saidFuller.Twoadditionalhotelsopenedin2018,aswellas thegrandadditionoftheSpaattheAuburnMarriottOpelikaResortandSpa.NewjobsbringnewresidentstoOpelikawhichmeansnewhomeconstructionwhichisatanalltimehigh.
Whilethereisalotofgoodnews,therearechallenges.OnenotableinitiativethathasbeensetinmotionisaCommissiononCrimeandViolence.Thecommitteeisfocusedonfamilies,youth,educationandresources.
“Thefutureisbright,butwecannotrestonourlaurels.Ourcitycouncil,departmentheadsandcityemployeeshaveworkedtirelesslytobringpositiveimprovementstoyouandourcommunity.And2019,weplantocontinuetoworktogetherforthegreatergoodforall,”saidFuller.
byth
enum
bers $700 Million Investment
from Industry
710 Additional Jobs
$32 Million Total Sales Tax Revenue
250 New Homes
115 Single Family Lots Ready for
Contruction
250 New Homes
115 Single Family Lots Ready for Contruc-
tion
700 Lots Under Review for Development
204 AdditonalApartment Units
590 Building Permits ($127.6 Million)
New Police Department & Municipal Court
Completed Fall 2019
5,000 Calls in 2018 Fire Department
Pickle Ball Stadium Sportsplex
Renovations to Parks
Lots of RoadConstruction
Spon
sors
www.opelikachamber.com
uschambernewsThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce (COC) is the world’s largest business federation representing
the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. For more information on the following
articles and others (topics below), visit www.uschamber.com.
Pictures in articles are from the U.S. Chamber website.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 5 Reasons We Support the U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement
“As the USMCA Coalition launches, we and our partners from all across the business and agriculture community are rolling up our sleeves to make sure this agreement gets the seal of approval from Congress – and soon.” Tom Donohue
Essential to U.S. Manufacturers and FarmersU.S.-manufacturedgoods exports to Canada and Mexico supportthejobsofmorethan2 million men and women at more than43,000manufacturingfirms acrosstheUnitedStates.MostU.S. manufacturingsectors(38outof42) andmoststates(46outof50)count CanadaorMexicoastheirfirstor second-largestforeignpurchasers.
U.S.agriculturalexportstoCanada and Mexico quadrupled from $8.9 billionin1993to$39billionin2017, and the two countries are top marketsforU.S.grains,dairyprod- ucts, meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables.Nearlyone-thirdofU.S. agricultural exports went to our NorthAmericanneighborsin2017.
Brings trade into the 21st Century TheUSMCAincludessomeofthe mostinnovativeruleseverachieved
inaU.S.tradeagreement.When NAFTAwasnegotiatedaquarter centuryago,therewasnoe-com- merce, but thetal trade chapter in theUSMCAisthebestevernegoti- ated, by any country. Similarly, the new agreement protects classes of intellectual property, such as biologics,thattheoldNAFTAdid not for the simple reason that they had not yet been invented.
Boosts American Small Businesses Canada and Mexico are the top twoexportdestinationsforU.S. smallandmedium-sized enterprises,morethan120,000 of which sell their goods and services in our two North Americanneighbors.Whenan American small business starts exporting,it’salmostalwaysto Canada or Mexico.
Powers the Service EconomyU.S.servicesexportstoCanada andMexicotripledfrom$27billion in1993to$91billionin2017,but America’shighlycompetitive businessservicessectorcontinues toenjoyexceptionalexport growth.
It’s no secret that the Chamber has longsupportedthebenefitsoffreeand open trade. Selling more of our goodsandservicestothe95%oftheworld’s consumers who live outside ourbordersiscrucialtocreatingAmerican jobs, helping small businesses, and keeping our edge in a fiercelycompetitiveworldeconomy.
That’swhywesupporttradeagree-mentssuchastheUnited-States- Mexico-CanadaAgreement(USMCA).
Supports 11 Million JobsTheUSMCAallowsAmericansto trademorethan$3.5billioningoods and services with our North American neighbors every day, or roughly$1.3trillionannually,which supports more than 11 million Americanjobs.Infact,49U.S.states count Canada or Mexico as one of their top three merchandise export markets.
Agriculture & Food SafetyDebt & DeficitEducationEnergyEnvironment
Financial RegulationFree SpeechFederal ContractingHealth ContractingImmigration
InfrastructureIntellectual Property International Trade & InvestmentLabor
Legal ReformNat’l & Cyber Security Regulatory ReformRetirementTaxes
TechnologyTransportationTravel & Tourism
www.opelikachamber.com
www.opelikachamber.com
INFRASTRUCTURE: Small Businesses Still Optimistic but Poor Infrastructure is a Road Block
our infrastructure systemintothe21stcentury. And the businessesthattheU.S.Chamberrepresents are dependingonit,”saidTomDonohue,U.S.ChamberPresidentandCEO.
TheIndexalsonotedhowmuchsmall business owners consider commu-nicationstechnologiestobecriticalinfrastructure pieces.
Eighty-fivepercentofthosesurveyedsaidhigh-speedinternetisimportantor very important to their success. That’sahigherpercentagethanthosewho said the same about local roads and bridges.
“TheIndexresultsaddtoamountainofevidencethatAmerica’sinfrastruc-tureisn’tmeetingthedemandsof
today’s business owners and today’s economy.Thisshouldbeawake-upcalltoleadersinWashington:It’stimetoinvestinmodernizingournation’sinfrastructure.”
U.S. Chamber’s Infrasture Modernization Plan
A Modest Increase in the Federal Fuel Fee
Expand Financing Options, like Public/Private Partnerships, for Local Communities
Streamline the Permitting Process to Get Projects Off the Ground
Develop a Skilled Workforce to Build these Projects
Smallbusinessconfidencetookahitinthefirstquarteroftheyear, accordingtotheMetLife&U.S.Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index,butconfidenceisstillstrong.
TheIndex,thisquarter,focusedoninfrastructureissues.Likemost Americans, small businesses rely on infrastructure to get work done and have concerns with the quality of the roads.
Sixty-twopercentratedlocalroadsand bridges as average, poor, or very poorquality.U.S.highwaysdidn’tratemuchbetter.Fifty-twopercenthadthesame opinion of them.
“Ourlong-termcompetitivenessandlastingprosperityrequireustobring
HEALTH CARE: ‘Medicare for All’ isn’t the Health Care Reform Americans Want
taxpayersthatprovidesessentialhealthcare to all Americans and eliminates private health insurance plans, including those provided by employers.”
Thepollfound76%wouldratherseeCongress focus on lowering health care costs for all Americans than createanewgovernment-runhealthcaresystem,financedbytaxpayersthatprovidesessentialhealthcareto all Americans and eliminates privatehealth insurance plans, including those provided by employers.
“MedicareforAll”isthehottalkinhealth care policy. Bills have been in-troducedinCongressandpresidentialcandidates have jumped into the fray weighing in on the proposal on the campaign trail.
Whenasked,mostvotersbelieveitis“asystemthatensuresthatallAmericans have access to health care services and insurance through a mix of private health care and govern-ment programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.”
Fewerthanone-in-fivevoterspolled couldidentifyitas“agovernment-runhealthcaresystem,financedby
While voters want all Americans to have access to
health care, they don’t see a one-size-fits all,
big government system as the answer.
cale
ndar
ofev
ents CHAMBER
COMMUNITY
7 Annual Member Golf Tournament 9 First South Farm Credit Business After Hours14,28 20 Under 40 Session 17 Hometown Furniture & Appliances Ribbon Cutting 23 Auburn Opelika Lifestyle Group Business After Hours
1,8, 15 Noon Tunes at Courthouse Square 22, 293,17,31 Goodwill Leadership Training 3-5 ARM Bike Ride Across Alabama 4 Storybook Farm: Kentucky Derby Day 4-5 AU Graduation4 Garden in the Park7, 14 Summer Swing at the Monkey Park21, 289 Five Fifty Run / Walk for Mental Health9-12 SUSCC Graduation10 Southside Speakeasy Event11 EAMC’s Fit to Fight Event14 Family Discovery Hike23 - 26 LPGA Symetra Tour at Grand National24-26 Opelika Songwriter’s Festival
MayCHAMBER
COMMUNITY
The Gauge is a quarterly publication of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. If you would like to be a sponsor of The Gauge, please call 334.745.4861 or email Dinah, [email protected].
601 Avenue A Opelika 334.745.4861 www.opelikachamber.com. . .
June
3 Lee County Courthouse Ribbon Cutting & Business After Hours19 U.S. Chamber Luncheon24 Legislative Reception
1 Touch-A-Truck1 Burger Wars1 Pursell Farms: An Evening of Pop Art Painting with Art of Spanjer & Oregon Pinot Wines14,28 Goodwill Leadership Training21 Alzheimer’s Association: The Longest Day
Get a major in Business Management, Business Management with a concentration in Healthcare Management, or Criminal Justice
Located on Southern Union’s Campus - Office 124One Night a Week fo 5 Weeks!