By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Grayson Chamber of Commerce director Mike Nelson welcomed new members to the chamber at the organization’s October meeting.
“One of those members is People’s Bank, which has taken over for Citizen’s Bank,” Nelson told the chamber.
The Grayson location is one of many in Eastern Kentucky that will be taken over by People’s Bank, though the signage will remain the same until early next year. The incoming regional manager, Sarah Jo Baer, will be at the Grayson location beginning in November. She has previously been involved with People’s Bank at the Russell location, but has been a life-long resident of Grayson.
“I will be happy to be working in my community,” Baer said, explaining that she was grateful to no longer need to drive 40 minutes to go to work each day.
Nelson also discussed the Mistletoe Market with the chamber. Mistletoe Market is an annual fundraiser, Nelson said, aimed at encouraging people to spend money within the local community.
“We are excited to enter year number two of our Mistletoe Market,” Nelson said. “The program is here in Grayson, and on the outskirts of Grayson.”
But what is the Mistletoe Market, exactly?
“Basically, it is a little card,” Nelson explained to those who might not be familiar. “We will provide it to various businesses and restaurants here in town. If you go in with your card and spend fifteen dollars, you get a punch on the card. There are ten punches on the card, and once you fill the card up, it goes into an entry box.”
“Each week we draw a fifty dollar shop local gift card,” Nelson continued. “And at the end of the promotion we will draw for a five hundred dollar shop local gift card. The shop local gift card is a virtual card that is only used at participating locations. And what that does is keep the money in Grayson.”
Nelson also said he wanted to thank Grayson Tourism for stepping up and supporting Mistletoe Market to help make it bigger and better.
Chamber President Jill York said she also would like to thank all of the chamber businesses that have embraced the Mistletoe Market and looks forward to the program being an even better success than last year.
The guest speaker at the October chamber meeting was the Dean of the School of Leadership and Business at Kentucky Christian University, Todd Maynard. Maynard said he had two talking points to address with the chamber. The first was to express appreciation, he said.
“The School of Leadership and Business and Kentucky Christian University as a whole would like to collaborate and serve together,” Maynard told the chamber.
Maynard said that the school teaches a lot of things to their students including things such as leadership, accounting, and other business-related courses. But one thing the school stresses, he said, was practical industry experience.
“I know when I graduated from Kentucky Christian University, I learned a lot and built a lot of connections with folks. But one of the things I wish I had had the opportunity to do was go out and do some internships and serve the community a little bit more and pass on those opportunities as well.”
Maynard said it was important to connect students with local businesses. The School of Leadership and Business is now placing high priority on doing just that. He encouraged the chamber members to reach out if any of their businesses could make use of an internship program.
“I know a lot of businesses, especially the ‘Mom and Pop’ businesses, might need services such as marketing,” Maynard told the chamber. “And these kids now are just brilliant with social media. That’s important to businesses, and they recognize that.”
Maynard also said interns have the potential to assist any business with things such as branding, which is crucial in a modern business environment.
“There are different types of internships,” Maynard told the chamber. “Whether those be paid internships or unpaid internships for nonprofits. We just want them to start getting industry experience.”
Maynard said another aspect the school would like to encourage is for their students to reach beyond the school and get out into the community.
“There is just so much these students can learn by getting out into the community.”
Maynard also pointed out that businesses could benefit from the students themselves in the area of leadership development.
“I believe that is huge,” he said.
Maynard said that sometimes business owners get so wrapped up in the day-to-day running of their businesses that they do not focus on leadership development.
“But we need to build future leaders,” Maynard told the chamber. “Because there is a difference between leadership and management.”
Maynard also spoke to the chamber about a new program the school had started, an Executive MBA program.
“You can finish this program in about 12 months,” Maynard said. “It gives a premium value for an affordable price.”
“We want to hear from you,” Maynard said in closing his address to the chamber. “Don’t be shy or bashful because I want you to reach out to me. If there is some way we can help serve, we are willing because it works both ways. If it helps you, it helps our students.”Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
