Greater Memphis Chamber Orientation

The Greater Memphis Chamber is as old as the Memphis business community and as current as the newest start-up. Since its inception in 1838, the Chamber has marketed Memphis’ unique assets – logistics, musical heritage, pioneering medical community – to the world. From placing the first full-page advertisements selling Memphis as a dynamic place to do business in 1941 to launching the most aggressive economic development initiative in the nation in 2008, the Chamber is the lead economic development agency for the City of Memphis and Shelby County.

1. The Greater
Memphis Chamber
Presented by Amanda Edmundson
Member Services Coordinator
Greater Memphis Chamber

2. Our Mission Statement
Member Development
To accelerate members’ growth and success by
connecting people, programs, and resources
Community Development
To foster partnerships that build a qualified
workforce linked to targeted industries, efficient
infrastructure, and an environment that stimulates
growth.
Chamber
To grow the Memphis economy
Economic Development
To strengthen our area’s existing businesses and
to serve as the catalyst for new commerce and
economic development.

3. Community Development
•Infrastructure / Aerotropolis
•Infrastructure for Overall Economic Development: Lamar/Hwy 78; I-69;
Mississippi River Bridge
•Infrastructure for Projects (e.g. Smith Nephew Appling Campus;
Project 21)
•Airport City Master Plan
•Memphis Airport Area Development Corporation (MAADC)—Brooks
Road
•Public Policy
•Legislative Agenda for State and Federal Governments
•EX: Bio-device legislation; Valero; Disadvantaged County Status for
Grants
•Workforce Development
•Target Sector Initiative : Focus Groups and Training for Advanced
Manufacturing, Logistics, Information Technology, and Healthcare
•Memphis Youth Initiative
Dexter Muller – SVP Community Development

4. Economic Development
•Existing Business Development
•New Business Recruitment
•Research & Marketing
•Int’l Development & Council
•Life Science Business
Development
•MLGW Partnership
Mark Herbison– SVP Economic Development
•Other Partnerships
–TVA Economic Development
–Tennessee Department of
Economic & Community
Development
–Memphis / Shelby County Office of
Economic Development

5. Existing Business Development
•Addresses the needs and concerns
of Memphis’ existing businesses
•Combines resources and efforts of
28 public and private agencies
•Onsite consultations
–Over 400 in-depth consultations
annually
–Over 100
consultations
with minority
businesses
annually
Kelvin Kolheim – Existing Business Team Leader

6. New Business Development
•Project management for incoming expansion & relocation inquiries.
•Promote Memphis’ business advantages at tradeshows, Red Carpet Tours and other
events.
•New Business Recruitment of $1.8 billion in new capital investments *
•Brought in and Retained over 36,000 jobs *
–Average income before taxes of $58,641
–Average expenditure of $45,749
*2008-2010
Susan Hadley Maynor, Leigh Anne Downes, Ernest Strickland
Retail Category Average
Expenditure
What if? You got
1/100
th
%
Food/Groceries 13% or $172,692,208$17,269
Household Furnishing3.2% or $42,509,836$4,251
Entertainment 5.4% or $71,735,348$7,174
Personal Care 1.3% or $17,269,621$1,727

7. Research & Marketing
•Community Data Warehouse
•GIS mapping & analysis
•Proposal & presentation development
•Memphis Delivers website & other ED marketing
materials
Adrienne Johnson

8. Int’l Development & Int’l Council
•Grow international trade in
Memphis & Shelby County
–Increase foreign direct
investment
–Increase exports
•Communicate Memphis’
strengths as a place for
foreign investment
•Interact with foreign
organizations
•Partners include:

9. Promoting Memphis
•Tradeshows
•Economic Development
Events
•Red Carpet Tours
•National PR
•National Advertising
•Trade Missions

10. Promoting Memphis
•Execute national ad campaigns
–Promote advantages of doing business in Memphis
–Targeted to selected industry trade publications & websites

11. Promoting Memphis
www.memphischamber.com

12. Mid-South Quality Production Center
•MSQPC is led by Dr. Donald Fisher.
•ISO 9000, ISO 14000, TS 16949, 13485
•Lean Six Sigma Green and Black Belt Courses
•Franklin Covey’s Seven Habits Series
•Regional Chamber Quality Cup Award
•Kaizen
•Process Activated Training System
©
(PATS)
•Baldrige Assessments and Application Writing
•Global Education, Healthcare, and Business
consulting

13. U.S. Department of Commerce –
U.S. Commercial Service
•Products and Services
•Company Assessments
•Market Research
•Partner Selection
•International Advertising
•Export Finance
•Export Documentation
•Trade Complaint Assistance

14. Membership
•2,100 Member Organizations
•Over 100 Annual Events
–Networking
–Sponsorship & Advertising
–Education and Business Growth
•Promoting Value
–Civic Duty
–Brand/Products/Services
–Chamber Resources/Connections
–Membership Dues Fuel and Fund
John Duncan – VP Member Development

15. Membership Team
Pat Guy
Director, Special Events
Ericka Milford
Events Coordinator
Angela Michaels
Project Manager
Amanda Edmundson
Member Services Coordinator
Tunga Lee
Administrative Assistant
Jeanne Bleu
Lead BDC
Sally Whitehorn
BDC
LaVera Tolbert
BDC
Tris Hnedak
BDC
Margaret Banks
BDC

16. Networking Events
• Breakfast Forums
• A Conversation With…
• Chairman Circle
• Lunch & Learns
• In the Mix with Small Business
• Small Business Breakfast Forum
• Move It Move 5k/10k
• Annual Chairman’s Luncheon
• Annual Golf Invitational

17. Sponsorship & Advertising
•All Chamber events are available
for sponsorships.
•Title
•Presenting
•Corporate
•Event
•Table
•Memphis Crossroads- quarterly
periodical (print & digital)
•Greater Memphis Chamber
Website
•Weekly Newsletter

18. Member to Member Discounts
•FedEx
•Save up to 26% on your
shipping needs and up
to 20% on FedEx Office
Solutions
•Office Depot
•Save up to 60% on
select office supplies
•Support Other Chamber
Members
•Offer your own Member
to Member Discount
•Use other Members’
discounts

19. Learning Events
•Lunch & Learn
•March 13
th
– Self Assessment “Understanding Your Strengths & Weaknesses
of Time Management”
•April 17
th
– Effective Management
•May 22
nd
– Growing Your Sales Skills
•August 8
th
– Strategic Planning
•September 11
th
– Disaster Preparedness
•October 9
th
– Baptist Healthcare

20. Volunteer Opportunities
•Ambassador Committee
•Ambassadors are representatives of the Greater
Memphis Chamber.
•Assist the Memphis Chamber with membership
retention by:
•Making personal visits to members
•Encouraging members to become involved
in the Chamber
•Assisting members to learn more about the
Chamber
•Volunteer to work events
•Attend Ribbon-Cuttings

21. Questions?
Greater Memphis Chamber
p / 901.543.3500 | f / 901.543.3510
www.memphischamber.com