Category: Uncategorized

The Dialogue with Adam Tilley

Posted on March 9, 2024 by - Uncategorized

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 207th installment visiting with Adam Tilley, owner of Predator Management Solutions which provides high-quality wildlife control services in line with the local, state, and federal laws. We design our services to be safe, humane, ethical, effective, cost-efficient solutions.

Describe more about your business. Wildlife hunting and trapping is very important to the environment, more today than ever before. Our highly populated environment requires people to manage the wildlife for a healthy balance. Years ago, everyone took an active role in population control, today not so much. Many people today do not see the need in hunting and trapping. That is until wildlife starts destroying their property, pets, livestock or passing on zoological diseases to pets, livestock and people they care for. Hunting, trapping and firearm laws have a direct impact on our ability to perform our job as humane, safe and effective as possible uncontrolled.

How did you get started? The founder of the company is a retired TWRA game warden and wildlife biologist. Knowing me since I was an aspiring, young hunter/ trapper in the mountains of East Tennessee, he encouraged me to pursue a career as a wildlife control agent. Eventually semi retiring entrusting the business to me, continuing to serve the public with proven wildlife control and conservation principles.

What is your background? I grew up on a farm in Blount County, hunting, trapping and fishing my entire life. I learned construction, basic maintenance and farming which has allowed me to draw from those skill sets to this very unique industry. Being a certified hunter and trapper education instructor with Tennessee Wildlife Recourses Agency. I attended FTA Trappers College held thru Purdue University, receiving a Master Trapper title.

Describe your customers. Our customers are any individual or company that is having a human/wildlife conflict. Serving the agricultural, commercial, residential communities, state and local governments. Serving Blount, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, and surrounding counties, as well as large plantations in West Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi.

What do you enjoy most about your business? Educating people about our environment and wildlife, and how everything we do has a cause and effect on people and wildlife. Being an instructor with Tennessee Wildlife Recourses Agency since 2004, teaching all ages the importance of being a safe, ethical hunter.

Blount4Kids.com Launches to Provide Needed Parent Resources

Posted on February 27, 2024 by - Uncategorized

Working towards building for the future, the Blount Partnership’s Early Education Task Force is proud to announce the launch of Blount4Kids.com, a groundbreaking online platform dedicated to providing comprehensive early education and childcare resources. The website aims to promote economic growth and stability in Blount County by increasing workforce participation and work readiness through accessible, high-quality early education and childcare services.

Blount4Kids.com is designed to address the critical need for affordable, quality childcare and early education options in our community. With a mission to support families and caregivers, the platform offers a wealth of resources, including:

– Directory of licensed childcare providers: Parents can easily find accredited childcare centers, home-based providers, and preschools in their area, ensuring peace of mind and quality care for their children.

– Educational materials and activities: The website features a variety of educational resources, including age-appropriate learning activities, developmental milestones, and tips for fostering early childhood development.

– Early Education Careers: Blount4Kids.com provides information on available opportunities to find a career in early education and childcare with properly licensed programs.

– Community support and engagement: The platform encourages community involvement and collaboration by facilitating connections between parents, caregivers, educators, and local organizations dedicated to early childhood development.

“With Blount4Kids.com, we recognize the importance of early childhood education and its impact on the future success of our children and our community,” said Director of Workforce Development Jessica Belitz. “By providing families with access to quality childcare options and empowering caregivers with valuable resources, we aim to create a more vibrant and economically resilient Blount County.”

The launch of Blount4Kids.com represents a significant step forward in addressing the childcare crisis and supporting the economic prosperity of Blount County. By investing in early education and childcare, the website aims to equip children with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive academically and socially, while enabling parents to pursue employment opportunities and contribute to the local economy.

For more information about Blount4Kids.com and its services, please visit www.blount4kids.com.

Strategic Plan Board Engagement

Posted on February 22, 2024 by - Uncategorized

Strategic Plan Board Engagement

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TNECD Celebrates Tennessee’s Skilled Workforce with Release of “Born to Make”

Posted on February 16, 2024 by - Uncategorized

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) released its newest anthem video, “Born to Make,” in conjunction with February serving as National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in Tennessee.

CTE gives students and adults the academic skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in future careers while also building upon skills to prepare them for a wide range of jobs in high demand. While CTE is taught to school-aged students in middle and high school, it is also offered to adult students at postsecondary institutions in an effort to give more Tennesseans the skills they need to obtain careers across a variety of industries.

Gov. Bill Lee issued a proclamation asking Tennesseans to join him in celebrating February 2024 as Career and Technical Education Month and highlighting how CTE gives Tennessee students opportunities to advance their education and training in order to better position them for future success while also strengthening Tennessee’s workforce pipeline.

“The pathway to success doesn’t look the same for every Tennessean and while attending a four-year institution may be the right option for some, a certification from one of our Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology may be right for others,” said Gov. Lee, “We have prioritized career readiness so that more Tennesseans are given the opportunity to follow the career path of their choosing.”

“Born to Make” focuses on the Tennesseans that create products known around the world from here in the Volunteer State. From cars and boats to whiskey and chocolate to chart-topping songs and motion pictures, “Born to Make” celebrates Tennessee’s workforce across a number of industries.

“The strength of Tennessee’s brand wouldn’t be what it is if it weren’t for the men and women who contribute to exceptional products that are made in our state,” said TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter. “In ‘Born to Make,’ we recognize and applaud the skilled individuals that dedicate their talents to the success of Tennessee’s businesses and the reputation we are known for around the globe.”

Watch “Born to Make” here and follow TNECD on social media to see highlights of the businesses and workforce that shape Tennessee.

More than 50 Employers Expected for Blount County Job Fair

Posted on February 13, 2024 by - Uncategorized

Anyone looking for a job or wanting career development opportunities should attend the Blount County Job Fair February 21 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Foothills Mall in Maryville. This event is open to the public and there is no charge to attend. Attendees are asked to utilize the entrance between Cancun Restaurant and TJ Maxx.

More than 50 employers, including Smith & Wesson and Amazon, are expected on site offering employment in the areas of healthcare, internet technology, hospitality, public services, construction, aviation, education, banking and more. Go to www.blountchamber.com/jobfair for a complete listing of employers.

 “This is a great opportunity for potential employees to meet one-on-one with area companies or for anyone wanting to further their career,” said Jeff Muir, Blount Partnership communications director. “We have a variety of employers offering full-time or part-time employment.” 

Additionally, the American Job Center in Maryville will be on site to assist job seekers with training and educational opportunities, job searches, writing resumes and cover letters as well as doing research on prospective employers.

Sponsors of the event are GEAR Staffing, Amazon, Blackberry Farm, Massey Electric, Smokies Life, UT Federal Credit Union, @Work Personnel, Cherokee Millwright, Cirrus Aircraft, DENSO and Chick-fil-A.

The Dialogue with Chara Boring

Posted on February 13, 2024 by - Uncategorized

This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 206th installment visiting with Chara Boring, owner of DeVine Moon. DeVine Moon, located in Foothills Mall, sells crystals, gemstones and gemstone jewelry.

Tell me more about Divine Moon. We specialize in different assortments of rocks, crystals, and gemstones….raw and polished and we like to let our shoppers know what each crystals healing properties are when you carry them or have them as home decor.

How did you get started? We started as vendors at Natural Mystic over in Midland shopping center. We do still currently vend there so our products can still be purchased at that shop. But we have just done so well with putting items on a couple tables in their shop and decided we wanted to try to have our own shop.

What is your background? It started as a hobby for my husband and I as we took more interest in stones. We started getting more and more knowledgeable. We were regular shoppers at Natural Mystic and with us having a direct contact with a stone miner we asked to become vendors and it just took off within a few months.

Who is your mentor? Hunter Johnson from Natural Mystic has been a huge support. He educated us on different stones when trying to identify them and even taught us about different textures to look for. Eon Carson is another friend from the spiritual community that has been nothing but supportive and a helping hand on anything we need for the shop. Ally B Inked has been another huge support with our shop. She’s a longtime friend and tattoo artist who made sure to be our first customer on our opening day.

Describe your customers. Our customers range from all ages and all different types of people. You don’t have to be a part of a group or have a certain belief to enjoy a beautiful stone that came from the earth.