2015 June / July Communique - Bessemer Area Chamber of

Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce
Our 93rd Year
We’re On the Move
Contents:
June / July 2015
Reserve Your Table
Spotlight on Success……………………....……2
Happenings in Bessemer……………………...4, 5
Calendar of Events……………………………5
Tickets
$25
Table of 8
$200
New Members …………….…………………...6, 7
Chamber News…………………………...…..8, 10
Membership Luncheon………………………….9
Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce
Membership Luncheon With the Governor
Dining in Bessemer………………………………11
Friday, July 31, 2015
Event Highlights……………………………….12
Seating on a First Reserved Basis (Flyer Enclosed)
JUNE/JULY 2015
bessemerchamber.com
2
Think you know DEX Imaging? There's a lot more to our company than
office equipment: we're a leading entrepreneurial innovator and charitable
contributor, working to better our community and the lives within it.
How? First, by being the best. We're the nation's largest independent
dealer of Konica Minolta, Kyocera and Canon document management
solutions, and our size provides reach and allows us to maximize
economies of scale to provide you with the best value and service.
Speaking of service, we pride ourselves of providing top-notch
maintenance and repair. Our technicians, certified DEXperts, are trained
to fix any make and model, not just the ones we sell. We maintain
warehouses of parts throughout our service areas to minimize downtime
and ensure quality.
The Dex Imaging team in Birmingham is proud to support the
Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Bessemer. Connie Fuell, Dex Senior
Sales Executive, is a proud member of the Chamber and is actively engaged as a
membership coordinator. She has worked tirelessly for years to assist business owners
with complex office technology solutions. We at Dex are excited about the changes that
have occurred recently and look forward to the upcoming events in the City of Bessemer!
Connie Fuell
Office: (205) 484-2561 Cell: (205) 427-3835
201 London Pkwy., Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35211
cfuell@deximaging.com
www.deximaging.com
For all your Copier,
Printing, Scanning and Solutions
needs contact a DEXPERT!
bessemerchamber.com
JUNE/JULY 2015
3
2015 Investors
Place Your Ad in
GOLD SPONSORS
the Chamber
Communique
SILVER SPONSORS
FULL PAGE AD
$75 per occurrence
SMALL AD
$50 per month or 6
months for $240
SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERS
BOARD MEMBERS
Comfort Care
Engineering Environmental Forestry Service
Legacy YMCA
Paden & Paden, PC
PNC Bank
Regional Paramedical Services
State Farm Insurance Agent, Julie Bell
Trustmark National Bank
The
Chairman
Eric Messer
Shoals
Ambulance
Golf Tournament
Thursday, October 1, 2015
The 2015 Chamber magazine is ready!
This magazine is a great marketing tool and
promotion piece for the City of Bessemer. There are
numerous new developments and businesses coming
to Bessemer. Find out what’s happening in Bessemer.
Stop by the Bessemer Chamber and get copies to
distribute at your business.
Past
Chairman
Charles King
Regional
Paramedical
Services
Julie Bell
State Farm Insurance
Chairman
Elect
Joni Holt
Holt
Insurance
Agency
Connie Fuell
Dex Imaging
Treasurer
Nathan
Clark
Medical
West
Finance
Committee
Terry
Dawson
Regions
Bank
John Sides
Alabama Power
Company
Richard Bishop
Lee Henderson
ITT Technical Institute
Alabama Gas Company
Kim Starling
Brookwood Medical
Lynn Brown
Alabama Splash
Adventure
Joni Holt
Holt Insurance Agency
Center
Town & Country Ford
Nathan Clark
Medical West
Charles King
Regional Paramedical
Services
David Darby
Trustmark National
Judy Mathis
Moore Coal Company
Hank Tyler
Bank
Terry Dawson
Dr. Fred Primm
Bessemer Board of
Regions Bank
Education
Roderick Evans
Mike Roper
Paden & Paden, PC
Bessemer Police
Department
Anthony Underwood
Anthony Underwood
Automotive
Devron Veasley
Bessemer Business
Center
Trina Vines
Oak Trace
WELCOME TO THE BESSEMER AREA
RIBBON CUTTINGS
The Walk-In Closet
19th Street N., Bessemer
Cher Smoot Johnson
Superior For Men
701 Academy Drive, Bessemer
Muhamad Ibrahim
Medical West’s Freestanding Emergency Room
5300 Medford Drive, Hoover
Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New
Bessemer City Hall
The City of Bessemer held a historic ground
breaking on the morning of May 28, 2015, on a
new City Hall building.
The new $5.6 million building is being constructed
at the corner of 17th Street and Third Avenue
North in historic downtown Bessemer. It is slated
for completion by June 2016.
HAPPENING IN BESSEMER
The Boy Scout of America’s Mayor’s
Breakfast was held on Wednesday, April
29th. Hundreds gathered to hear the
speaker of the hour, Mr. Jeremiah Castille.
Bessemer native and Heisman Trophy
winning quarterback Jameis Winston has
been selected by the National Football
League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the
top overall selection in the 2015 NFL
Draft.
Winston, 21, grew up in Bessemer and
played his high school football at nearby
Hueytown High School.
On May 1, 2015, Winston signed a four
year, $23.35 million contract with the
Buccaneers, with a $16.7 million signing
bonus.
Each year the Chamber presents a token
of appreciation to our area Teachers of
the Year at each school in Bessemer. This
year’s recipients are:
JS Abrams Elem.
Greenwood Elem.
CF Hard Elem.
Jonesboro Elem.
Westhills Elem.
Bessemer City Middle
Bessemer City High
New Horizon
Lakeshia Smith Moody
Patrisha Harris-Allen
Khristan R. McAdory
Mary Blackerby
Tyese Monique Perkins
Steevin Burks
Angela Lynette Mason
Harold Reynolds, Jr.
bessemerchamber.com
JUNE/JULY 2015
5
JULY
4
4th of July Celebration
Bessemer City High School
July 4th
31
Formerly held at Roosevelt Park on Hwy 150
House
10 Open
AAA Alabama Bessemer
12:00 PM
4933 Promenade Pkwy #120, Bessemer
30
Ribbon Cutting
United Prosthetics & Orthotics
709 B Memorial Drive, Bessemer
10:00 AM
Celebration
1130 Ninth Avenue, SW, Bessemer
*Reservation & Payment Required
6:30 – 9:00 PM
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Membership Meeting With the
Governor
Bessemer Civic Center
July 4th
AUGUST
25
24TH Annual Bessemer Business
Awards Gala
Bessemer Civic Center
Membership
Luncheon with the
Governor
1130 Ninth Avenue, SW, Bessemer
*Reservation & Payment Required
6:00 – 8:00 PM
July 31st
HAPPENING IN BESSEMER
First Annual Taste of Bessemer Was a Huge Success Thanks to Our Sponsors!
The sponsors that supported this event were Moore Coal Company, Alabama Splash Adventure, Academy Chrysler
Dodge Jeep Ram, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Eagle Cleaning Service and Senator Priscilla Dunn.
Participants included Beef O Brady’s, Bessemer Elks Lodge #721, Bob Sykes Barbecue, Chick-Fil-A McCalla, Holt
Insurance Agency, Inc., I’m Listening LLC, ITT Technical Institute, J Wings, Kraze Kreations, McAlister’s Deli,
Medical West, The Bright Star Restaurant, The Walk-In Closet, Town & Country Ford, Wagon Wheel Deli & Grill.
Over 100 guests gathered to enjoy food, beverages and vendors.
AAA Alabama
Mari Harrelson, Angela Holloway
4933 Promenade Parkway #120
Bessemer, AL 35022
PH 205-481-4600, F 205-481-4617
Harrelson.mari@aaaalabama.com
www.aaa.com
Academy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Tonya Warmley
5080 Academy Lane
Bessemer, AL 35022
PH 205-923-6343, F 205-432-0520
tdavis@academycdjr.com
www.academycdjr.com
AG Gaston Construction Co. Inc.
Kenisha Wilson
2 North 20th Street, Ste 150
Birmingham, AL 35203
PH 205-328-0376
kwilson@aggaston.com
www.aggaston.com
Bessemer Board of Education
Darlene Perkins
732 Castlewood Drive
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-908-1031
Dlp50@bellsouth.net
Bessemer Board of Education
Vera Eades
3100 Sixth Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-424-7172
Jvt602@msn.com
Bessemer City Council
Jesse Matthews
600 Flint Hill Road
Bessemer, AL 35022
PH 205-428-1746
jmatthews@bessemeral.org
Bessemer Fire Department
Robert Horn
929 Shelton Street
Birmingham, AL 35215
PH 205-283-7971
beabobby@aol.com
Bessemer Municipal Court
Gwen Horn
23 North 15th Street
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-481-4373, F 205-481-4384
ghorn@bellsouth.net
Bessemer Utilities
Janice Holyfield
1600 First Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 481-4333 ext. 212
jholyfield@bessemerutilities.com
City of Bessemer Building Dept.
Tom Harmon
1804 Third Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-424-4060
tharmon@bessemeral.org
City of Bessemer Clerk/Treasurer
Adrina Hines
1800 Third Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-424-4060
City of Bessemer Finance Dept.
Kela Pryor
2067 Ross Parkway
Hoover, AL 35226
PH 205-424-4060
kpryor@bessemeral.org
City of Bessemer IT Department
Patricia Walker
1800 Third Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-424-4060
City of Bessemer Municipal Judge
Lynneice Washington
6058 Overlook Lane
Bessemer, AL 35022
PH 205-477-1191, F 205-481-4157
Low4law@aol.com
www.washingtonforjudge.com
City of Bessemer Public Works
Lawrence Hatter
1205 15th Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-281-1657, F 205-424-4082
lhatter@bessemeral.org
Cynthia Parris Smith, Attorney
1823 Third Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-585-7408, F 205-428-4880
cpsequire@aol.com
Exford Architects
Carl A. Exford
3928 Jefferson Avenue SW
Birmingham, AL 35221
PH 205-957-6640, F 205-957-6646
carlexford@exfordllc.com
www.exfordllc.com
Fabric Cellar, The
Donnie Burchfield
802 Labarge Drive
Bessemer, AL 35022
PH 205-428-4878
donnieburchfield@gmail.com
www.fabricguru.com
Farr Tax Service
Andrea Montgomery
1324 Eastern Valley Road
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-426-5431, F 205-426-0124
Amontg1026@yahoo.com
Grammer Heating and Air
12830 Hilda Drive
McCalla, AL 35111
PH 205-477-1597, F 205-477-1004
deborah@grammerinc.com
Greater Bethel Baptist Church
Rev. James Eades
531 26th Street
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-260-8374
Jvt602@msn.com
Gunn Christian Academy
Hansell Gunn
831 Eastern Valley Road
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-425-4482
hansellgunn@att.net
www.gunnchristianacademy.com
Individual
Jheri Hunter
610 Villa Glenn
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-643-0588
Hunter_jheri@yahoo.com
Individual
Nakisha Layfield
2815 Southwood Lane
Bessemer, AL 35022
PH 205-602-8407
nakishalayfield@hotmail.com
J Wings
Jeremy Williams
1011 Ninth Avenue SW
Bessemer, AL 35022
PH 205-381-8067
Jmike929@gmail.com
Perfecting Reconciliation Church Intl.
LaTonya Blanks
1723 Third Avenue
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-434-1343, F 205-434-4880
firstlady@prcintl.org
www.prcintl.org
Vintage Station, The
Brad Watkins
2 18th Street North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-800-7550
info@antiquesarchitectural.com
www.thevintagestation.com
Russell & Alford, Inc.
Randy Alford
PO Box 110191
Birmingham, AL 35211
PH 205-785-5103, F 205-785-5109
russellandalford@aol.com
Wadsworth Corst Arthur Wadsworth
Butch Wadsworth
13 Grandview Drive
Oneonta, AL 35121
PH 205-281-7031
Law Center for Civil & Criminal
Justice, The
Yusuf Olufemi
1600 Fifth Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 424-8876
yusufolufemi@bellsouth.net
Safford Building Company LLC
Clifford Safford
PO Box 604
McCalla, AL 35111
PH 205-224-5935, F 205-224-5936
saffordbuildingco@att.net
Oak Trace Care & Rehab Center
Kendra Crews
325 Selma Road
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-223-5580
Kqcrews05@hotmail.com
Superior
Muhamad Ibrahim
4055 American Way
Memphis, TN 38118
PH 901-292-1401, F 901-362-3702
sales@villagemart.com
Oak Trace Care & Rehab Center
Latesia Jefferson
325 Selma Road
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-428-9383
tjefferson@oaktracerehab.com
www.oaktracerehab.com
Oak Trace Care & Rehab Center
Tracy Polk
5916 Malcolm Avenue
Birmingham, AL 35228
PH 205-999-0673
Teal923@sbcglobal.net
Tannehill Trader, LLC dba The LEAF
Shirley Johnson Cate
Kathy Spencer Chesser
21308 Carson Drive
Lake View, AL 35111
PH 205-907-7612
Tannehilltrader@gmail.com
www.readtheleaf.com
Twenty First Street Baptist Church
T. J. Thrash
515 21st Street South
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-424-7651
Walk-In Closet, The
Cher L. Smoot-Johnson
218 19th Street
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-506-2897
Chersmoot1@yahoo.com
Water Drainage Solutions
John Calloway
PO Box 362123
Hoover, AL 35236
PH 205-244-1114, F 205-426-2710
www.waterdrainagesolutions.com
Western Star, The
Sylvia Fendley
1709 Third Avenue North
Bessemer, AL 35020
PH 205-424-7827, F 205-424-8118
Sylvia.fendley.thewestern@gmail.com
JUNE/JULY 2015
bessemerchamber.com
8
PROMOTIONAL ITEMS IN STOCK AT
The Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce
The Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce has promotional items for sale. We have X-large Beach towels and chairs for
$20.00 each. Stop by and pick up your items at 321 18th Street N., Bessemer, AL 35020.
Splash Adventure welcomes business and community leaders.
Business is going well this year for Splash Adventure. Make
sure you purchase a ticket or season pass and visit the park.
Chamber Ambassadors enjoy Bob Sykes BBQ and Blues
Festival while promoting chamber items.
JUNE/JULY 2015
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bessemerchamber.com
CHAMBER NEWS
Old Fashioned Seafood Boil Was a Success!
bessemerchamber.com
JUNE/JULY 2015
11
CHAMBER AMBASSADORS
Ambassadors are the key
resource in extending
hospitality in the Bessemer
area and are experienced
in business, community,
and promotional arenas.
B
An Ambassador must
serve as an active public
relations arm of the
Chamber and be prepared
to meet visitors, local
businesses, and various
forms of the media.
We encourage you join the
ambassador program. The
ambassadors meet on the
1st Tuesday of each month
at 8:30am at the Bessemer
Area
Chamber
of
Commerce.
Coordinator
Lula Walter, City of Bessemer
Regina Doriety, Lawson State Community College
Shirley Horn, Retired
Co-Coordinators
Latesia Jefferson, Oak Trace Care and Rehab
Nikki Jordan, Bessemer Airport
Lori Chisem, Lawson State Community College
Andie Sloan, Vitas Innovative Hospice
Doris Lewis, City of Bessemer
Secretary
Nelda Pate, Retired
Claire Mitchell, Visalus - Body by Vi
Sarah Beasley, Joe Beasley Memorial Foundation, Inc
Sarah Belcher, Retired
Erin Cooney, Holt Insurance Agency
Daryl Owens, Bessemer City Schools
Minnie Roper, Retired
Trisston Wright Burrows, Moore Coal Co.
DINE
WITH A CHAMBER MEMBER…
VISIT KRAZE KREATIONS FOR LUNCH,
DINING AND YOUR CATERING NEEDS
Kraze Kreations is located in the heart of Bessemer, AL and takes pride
in offering their customers a wide variety of delicious baked goods, tasty
food menu options, and creative ideas. We custom design cakes and cake
flavors for all occasions. There is nothing more special than sweet
memories for a celebration. Cupcakes, cake pops, push-up pops, you
name it! We are ready to help you pick something fun and memorable to
make the theme of your event POP!
But we don’t stop there! Kraze can help design the ultimate event menu.
Whether you need finger foods for a bridal or baby shower, or you are
looking to feed a crowd for tailgating or a wedding reception, we offer a
variety of options to suit your needs.
We use the freshest ingredients in all of our items, and make each order
with love! We can’t wait to celebrate your next big day with you! Join
the Kraze family today!
KRAZE KREATIONS
Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturdays
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
415 19th Street North, Bessemer, AL 35020
PH (205) 436-2842
Kraze_kreations@yahoo.com
JUNE/JULY 2015
bessemerchamber.com
12
24th Annual
Bessemer Business Awards Gala
The Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce
presents the
The City of Bessemer’s
Saturday, July 4th, 6:30 - 9:00pm
Bessemer City High School
Fireworks
August 25, 2015
Bessemer Civic Center
Please Join Us as We Honor Bessemer’s 2014
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
Fire Fighter of the Year
Deputy Sheriff of the Year
Doctor of the Year
around
8:45 pm
Business of the Year
Enjoy fresh
watermelon, Meet your
elected officials,
Free food, fun and
giveaways for the
entire family
GUESTS WILL ENJOY
Heavy Hors d’oeuvres, Live Band, Silent Auction, Door Prizes
SCHEDULE
6:00 pm Social Time
Bessemer Area
6:30 pm Buffet Line Opens
(205) 425-3253
7:30 pm Silent Auction Ends
Chamber of Commerce
321 18th St. N., Bessemer, AL 35020
mmilan1@bellsouth.net
www.bessemerchamber.com
LaTasha Cook, President
7:00 pm Awards Presentation
Dancing and Networking