Fort Payne Chamber Of Commerce

This great local project has been highlighted by Business Alabama Magazine.

The fourth quarter of 2024 begins in only three weeks. Are you ready to make that final push for a successful 2024? The secret is planning ahead, and the Quarterly Preview is a powerful tool to help you do that. The article we've shared here provides details on the key steps of implementing a Quarterly Preview: Step 1: Make Space Step 2: Celebrate the Wins Step 3: Unearth the Lessons Step 4: Decide Your Priorities Step 5: Plan the Big Picture How important is planning in the success of your business? Do you plan to implement the Quarter Preview? Where and when do you do your best planning? Share your thoughts in the comments!

According to a Small Business Trends article, 35% of small businesses offer Labor Day promotions. What about you? Do you offer discounts to attract shoppers to your website or physical location? Share your tips in the comments!

It's the first day in a new chapter for the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce, as Jessica Townsel takes on the role of our executive director. Join us tomorrow (Tuesday, August 20, at 8 a.m.) at the Chamber office for an informal "meet and greet" to welcome Jessica and wish her a great start!

Main Street Alabama is supporting progress across our state. We are blessed to have a great FORT PAYNE-MAIN STREET in our hometown! https://lnkd.in/ecK88pZq

SAY HELLO TO OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR! Following a comprehensive search that spanned the state, the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce we've chosen Jessica Townsel as our new Executive Director. She brings strong development experience and partnership-building skills to our organization. Jessica takes the helm on August 19. She fills the position vacated by Jennifer McCurdy, the long-time executive director who now heads the Northeast Alabama Community College Entrepreneurial Center. “A strong Chamber of Commerce is vital to a city’s business community,” said Mike Shirey, general manager of FPIA and president of the Chamber board of directors. “Our mission as an executive committee was to find a new director who could build on the solid work of our Chamber and continue its success in serving Fort Payne area businesses. “We believe we found that person in Jessica Townsel,” he added. Townsel brings a well-rounded background to the position. She spent years working in the commercial construction industry, where her duties included managing client relationships, OSHA compliance, business development, human resources, and marketing. “That experience provides Jessica with a strong working knowledge of community development and infrastructure,” Shirey said. “That’s a solid foundation for her new role with the Chamber.” For the past decade, Townsel worked in the Fort Payne office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. As an administrative associate, she was a frontline representative for client engagement. Her duties included marketing and communications, team collaboration, office management, public presentations, and funds management and reporting. “An important part of Jessica’s work with the extension service was building and maintaining relationships with partners in the community,” said Shirey. “The role of the Chamber executive director is largely one of forging relationships and fostering a spirit of collaboration with businesses and organizations. The past ten years have ideally prepared her for this new challenge.” After soliciting resumes locally, the Chamber expanded its search across the state to ensure it had a wide pool of quality candidates to consider. The search process involved numerous interviews across several weeks, and Shirey said the committee was “delighted to find the ideal person right here in Fort Payne.” He expressed appreciation to all those who applied for the job. “There was a lot of interest, which speaks to the fact that Fort Payne is a desirable place to raise a family, engage in business, and be part of a special community,” Shirey added. “Thank you to everyone who sent us their resumes for consideration.” Townsel is married to Jesse Townsel, a native of DeKalb County and an employee of broadband provider FTC | Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative. The couple have two young children.

We're in a webinar today taking a deep dive into the Grow with Google program. Coming soon: Programs and training for putting Google resources to work in your business through your Chamber of Commerce!

"What do I do next???" We've all felt this way, staring at our inbox, to-do list, or project folders. The Eisenhower Matrix is a simple yet powerful tool for prioritizing tasks when you have more on your plate than you can get done. A new publication, The SMB Center, has a good explainer article on using the matrix. Read the article and learn more about "The Homepage for Small Business."

What a great opportunity to work in an exciting city on the move! We're looking for a new Executive Director. Check out our job listing on Indeed ...

We’re #hiring. This is a tremendous opportunity to work with a growing business community in one of the best small cities in Alabama. ? Fort Payne's historic downtown is undergoing revitalization. ? Its industrial base is thriving. ? It's surrounded by scenic Lookout Mountain with DeSoto State Park and the Little River Canyon National Preserve. With forward-thinking elected officials, community supporters, and civic leaders, you'll have the support needed to make a real difference. If this sounds like you, apply today!