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Save the Dates:
February 14, 2016– Valentines Day
February 18, 2016- Monthly Luncheon, Central Church of Christ, 11:45 am
See Page 4 for details
February 23, 2016– Advanced Spine and Therapy Business After Hours, 5:30-
7:30 Page 4
February 29, 2016– Women’s Resource Center 5:30-7 pm (SIDS Class) RSVP
with Tracey (251)675-0911
March 1, 2016– Thrivent Financial Ladies night, Saraland Chamber 6:00 pm
RSVP for dinner! To reserve your place call Christina Gibson at
(251)281-7312
March 10– Ribbon Cutting, Farmers Home Furniture 10 am
“To Promote economic expansion and enhance the quality of
life in the North Mobile Area, by supporting businesses,
encouraging community leadership and fostering
communication.”
Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce Mission Statement
President’s Perspective Ribbon Cutting
Leadership Saraland
Page 3 Page 2
February’s Luncheon, Business After Hours
Membership Renewals Business Card of the Month, BancorpSouth
Page 5 Page 4
Spotlight of the Month– Business Interiors
Board of Directors February Calendar Mission Statement Contact Information
Page 7 Page 6
Inside this Issue: To navigate throughout this newsletter click the pages listed below
PAGE 2 2. 2016
What is your Kryptonite? Kryptonite poisoning drained
Superman of his strength.
In 1893 Sears and Roebuck Stores mailed their first catalog. It
was a smashing success, especially in rural America. The Sears
catalog never captured more than 3% of total retail sales, so it
never really impacted the sales tax of America’s cities. The same
laws that eliminated the sales tax for the Sears catalog was
applied to internet sales over 100 years later.
In 2015, internet retail sales grew to 8% and continue to grow in
double digits every year. Are you beginning to see the
problem?
How are municipalities going to provide services with their sales
tax base shrinking at a rapid rate? Cities will have to be growing at a greater rate than online
sales to not notice the loss in sale tax income.
What can we do? We can buy local if permitted. Many items are available online that are not
available local, so you will still be purchasing plenty online. Support legislation to stop the online
advantage of not charging sales tax and passing the tax on to the municipalities.
As business owners you will be happy to know the most popular business model is bricks and
mortar with an online presence. Buy online and pick up at the store.
If sales tax is reduced, look for other taxes to appear, such as a pay for services tax. You now pay
for garbage, water & sewer, property tax, gasoline tax, etc. Look for all these taxes to increase
and new taxes to be proposed. What do you think about a Public Safety tax?
How is your business changing? What is your Kryptonite?
-Ron Mitchell
We would like to thank the 2015 Platinum Sponsors of the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce
Go to page 1
PAGE 3 2. 2016
Stop by the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce and
pick up your application today! The deadline for ac-
cepting applications is February 27, 2016. The cost of
this course is $300 per person. The cost includes
lunch, supplies, and field trip expenses!
Leadership Saraland If you are interested in being one of the first to know about the
upcoming Leadership Saraland Class, contact the Saraland Area
Chamber of Commerce. Leadership Saraland strives to connect
business leaders with the guidance and support they need for their
business to grow. In 2014, Leadership Saraland graduated the first
class of eighteen men and women selected as a cross-section of the
emerging leadership of the community. The program provided in-
struction and hands on field work to help them cope with the in-
creasing complexities of community decision making. Leadership
Saraland was developed and sponsored by a consortium of the City
of Saraland. Classes will begin in March 2016 for our new and im-
proved class and courses. If you would like more information or to
sign up for Leadership Saraland, please click here.
Go to page 1
PAGE 4 2. 2016
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
When you’re learning about a new town you always
want to know where the locals eat.
Go Have Some Fun at the Senior Center
Mayor Rubenstein talks Schools, Spartan Race,
Music and Arts
A City that Loves Animals, Too
Date: February 18, 2016
Time: 11;45
Location: Central Church of Christ
Speaker: J.C West
Saraland Chief of Police
This month’s luncheon will be held at Central Church of Christ at
12:00 noon. Prices of the luncheon have increased to $8 if you are a
member of the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce and
$10 if you are not a member.
Do you want your company to be Spotlight of
the Month or to host a Business After Hours?
February’s Business After Hours is brought to you by:
February’s Business After Hours
February 23, 2016
5:30-7 pm
627 S Saraland Blvd
Saraland, Alabama 36571
Go to page 1
Saraland Chamber of Commerce Membership Renewals
The Board of Directors and staff thank the following businesses for
continuing their support of the Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce.
Congratulations to this month’s Business Card of the Month! Don’t forget to submit
your business card at the next luncheon for your chance to win a free
advertisement in the next Newsletter!
Click the business card to visit their website
Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce
939 Highway 43 South
251-675-4444
www.saralandchamber.com
PAGE 5 2. 2016
A-Climate Control
Celeste Road Baptist Church
Elite Rentals
Flexicrew Staffing
G.A. West & Co., Inc
H&H Electric
INTRODUCING Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce’s new
Executive Director!
Stop by today to meet and greet
Mrs. Miller with a smile!
Shilo
Miller
Holley’s Pawn Shop
Judge Pamela Milsaps
Mobile Gas Service
Moka’s Coffee
Moore Properties
North Mobile Internet Services
Rock N’ Roll Sushi
Shell Chemical
South Alabama Regional
Planning Commission
State Farm Insurance,
Jeff Kahn
The Medicine Shoppe
Hancock Bank
Women’s Business Center
Women’s Resource Center
Go to page 1
PAGE 6 2. 2016
Spotlight of the Month- Business Interiors
Business Interiors, Inc., is the largest project management and contract furniture
firm in the state of Alabama. The company’s president, Alan Pizzitola, opened the
business in Birmingham in 1987 and has since enjoyed extensive growth across the
state of Alabama and the coast of Florida, opening additional locations in Hunts-
ville, Montgomery, Pensacola and Mobile. Business Interiors is an exclusive part-
ner with Knoll and Kimball and is the only DIRTT dealer in the state. The sales
team and interior designers work collaboratively throughout all phases of projects,
from inception to installation, to ensure the projects are implemented flawlessly
and on-time.
“We opened our location in downtown Mobile about 3 years ago and have really
enjoyed the warm reception that we’ve received from the city,” said Amanda Ram-
bo-Jackson, director of sales for Mobile and Pensacola. “We are more than just a
trusted partner for furniture, we take pride in supporting the city by hiring local
and having our employees be involved in the growth of the city of Mobile. Our
sales and design team is actively involved with various local networking groups
that promote environmental sustainability like Partnerships for Environmental
Progress and the U.S. Green Building Council, in addition to being active members
of the American Institute of Architects of Mobile, Association of General Contrac-
tors and the Rotary Club of Mobile,” said Rambo-Jackson.
“Our company is very big on building relationships and showing the city of Mobile
what we do to support the growth of our local businesses. Most recently, we en-
joyed opening our business to the community during our Post-NeoCon events in
Mobile and Pensacola. We loved bringing in some of the largest furniture manu-
factures in the industry to show our local business owners the latest and greatest
in furniture and design,” said Brent Baggett, sales executive for Business Interiors.
“One of our most exciting building solutions, DIRTT, is changing the way we think
about drywall. No longer do we have to rely on drywall for interior construction;
now we can affordably manufacture individualized spaces using DIRTT technolo-
gy, giving our clients a new way to build better,” said Baggett. “Our business is not
just about table and chairs, it’s about thoughtfully integrating pieces in our clients’
work spaces that stimulate productive conversations and positive energy in any
workplace, from a small doctor’s office to large engineering firms to classrooms at
major universities,” said Baggett. Rambo-Jackson added, “Many companies in Mo-
bile are experiencing rapid growth, just like us, and we feel so fortunate to have the
opportunity to support the growth and share our better ideas at work with our
community.”
The Photo lineup:
Front, from left: Paulette Doggett, Amanda
Rambo-Jackson, Deanna Jackson
Middle, from left: Brandon O’Brien, Brent
Baggett
Back, standing: Tiffany Jernigan
Go to page 1
PAGE 7 2. 2016
Business After Hours Procedures
Hosting
Hosting a Business After (or before) Hours is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your busi-
ness. These events are extraordinary opportunities for our members, and potential members,
to get to know each other .We all would rather do
business with people that we know and respect. These events provide that
venue. As a host, your business will gain additional profile. Our hope is
providing these guidelines is to better understand how to get the most out of your Business Af-
ter Hours.
Suggestions
-Know why you want to host this event and articulate that with the Chamber staff.
You might want to have as many people as possible at the
Business After Hours – or you might want to have a more targeted approach to getting a more
specific audience to the event.
-Business After Hours are often scheduled months in advance. The date is typical-
ly the 3rd Thursday of each month. If you need to change the day, the chances of conflicting
with other Chamber/community events increase dramatically. The Chamber tries not to sched-
ule anything on the evening of a Business After Hours but by moving the date, scheduling con-
flicts become more possible. The networking event’s typical hours are 5-7pm. The highest
attendance will be from 5:45-6:30. With a Business Before Hours, the typical time period is 7-
8:30. Business Before Hours is typically less attended. We do not have a calendar of Business
before Hours so any date selected can be approved through the Chamber staff.
-Recognize that people seek something to do with their hands. They also seek
commonalities through which they can begin a conversation. Serving food often gives folks that
option. We can provide you with a list of Chamber member
caterers. You want to make this an experience people can remember and talk about in a posi-
tive fashion later. The Chamber staff will work with you to determine an
approximate number of attendees.
-Do something memorable. It m ight be a tour of your facility, or a 5 -10 minute talk
about what you do or – provide an activity for the guests. (If you did the latter, make it no more
than 15 minutes).
-Provide door prizes – it doesn’t need to be many but some that might show off your prod-
uct line/service would be great. The real value of door prizes is you will have the business cards
of those that attended the event. You can send out a thank you note, email, etc. to those at-
tendees to make the evening more memorable.
-Have fun – people want to enjoy themselves. Have fun – try to make this
experience memorable. Try something new. To get a feel for how you want your Business Af-
ter (or before) Hours to be memorable, go to others through the course of the year to determine
what you liked or would change.
If you would like your business to sponsor the next Business After Hours
event, please contact the Saraland Chamber of Commerce by
clicking here.
Chairman of the Board: Rick Schaffer
President: Ron Mitchell
President Elect: Evelyn Gibson
Treasurer: Scooter Thronson
CO/VP Administration: Wayne Lyssy
VP Membership& Diplomats: Houston
Cunningham
VP Econ. Development: Jeff Khan
VP Community Development: Eddie Holmes
VP Governmental Affairs: Bill Silver
VP Public Relations: George Burroughs
VP Special Projects: Donna Jones
Greg Cawthon, Re/Max Gateway
Eloise Frost, Individual Member
Juanita Chandler, Chandler Properties
Dr. Aaron Milner, Superintendent
Brian Wilson, Walmart
Sheron Atwell, Exit Realty
Nick Patel, LaQuinta Inn
Terri Pringle, SARPC
Anita Clark, C Spire
Jeff Schmitz, Alabama Power
Bradley Flowers, Alfa Insurance
Joel Ross, First Community Bank
Jessica Neff, Mediacom
Chris Mears, Mears Electric
Tom Williams, Satsuma Council
Ronnie Outlaw, Bama Auto Parts
Del Williamson, Quint’s Sporting Goods
Chris McFarland, Smoothie King
Tammy Little, Shell Chemical
Joe Freeman, PNC Bank
Chief J.C. West, City of Saraland
Veronica Hudson, City Council
Go to page 1
“To Promote economic expansion and enhance
the quality of life in the North Mobile Area, by
supporting businesses, encouraging community
leadership and fostering communication.”
2-Woman’s Club, 10 am
2-Widowed Persons Service
Saraland Civic Center, 10am
2-Lion’s Club
Saraland United Methodist
Church, Noon
2-Board of Adjustments
Saraland City Courthouse, 6pm
2-Widowed Persons Service
Saraland Civic Center, 10am
3-Rotary Club of North Mobile
Catfish Junction $10pp, Noon
4-Sunshine Club
Senior Citizen Center, 11:00am
8-City Council Pre Meeting
9-Widowed Persons Service
Saraland Civic Center, 10am
10-Rotary Club of North Mobile
Catfish Junction $10pp, Noon
11-Sunshine Club
Senior Citizen Center, 11:00am
11– Keep Saraland Beautiful
Saraland Chamber of Commerce
Noon
11-City Council Meeting
14– Valentines Day
16-Planning Commission
Saraland Municipal Annex, 6pm
16-Lion’s Club
Saraland United Methodist
Church, Noon
16-Widowed Persons Service
Saraland Civic Center, 10am
17-Rotary Club of North Mobile
Catfish Junction $10pp, Noon
18-Sunshine Club
18-Monthly Luncheon, Central
Church of Christ 11:45 am
Senior Citizen Center, 11:00am
20-Disabled Veterans of America
Saraland Civic Center, 9am-noon
Contact: Tom Williams
251-648-4811
22-City council Pre Meeting
22-Woodmen of the World
312 Celeste Road Saraland, 6pm
23-Widowed Persons Service
23-Civic Forum
Saraland Civic Center, 10am
24-Rotary Club of North Mobile
Catfish Junction $10pp, Noon
25-Sunshine Club
Senior Citizen Center, 11:00am
25-City Council Meeting
29-Women’s Resource Center–
Veronica Hudson 5:30-7 pm
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
RSVP to Tracey (251)675-0911
G.E.D Classes
Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am- 12:00 pm
Saraland Civic Center
Contact information: James Williams
251-679-5517
Saraland Quilting Club
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, 1:00 pm
Saraland Civic Center
All ages & skill levels are welcome
Saraland Area Chamber of Commerce
Mission Statement
If you would like to know how your
business can become the next Spotlight
Business of the Month, please click here.
939 Highway 43 South
Saraland, AL 36571
www.saralandchamber.com
Phone number: 251-675-4444
Fax number: 251-675-2307
If you would like to add an event or monthly
organization meeting to the Saraland Area
Chamber of Commerce’s monthly calendar,
please click here to email the Chamber.
Connect with us on:
PAGE 8 2. 2016
