thegauge

spring 2019

a publication of the opelika chamber of commerce

www.opelikachamber.com

boardofdirectors thegauge

spring 2019

Brooke Kastner, Chair Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National

Carlton Hunley, IV, Chair - Elect Lambert Transfer & Storage

Bill Loosier, Vice - Chair Edward Jones Investments

John Story, Treasurer S & S Termite & Pest Control, LLC

Sheriff Jay Jones, Secretary Lee County Sheriff’s Department

Shey Knight, Past Chairman Autosport

Robyn Bridges Auburn Opelika Tourism Bureau

Amanda James James Bros. Bikes

Jeff Jerkins Bubba’s Medicine Shop

Malcolm Marshall McDonald’s Restaurants

Brandon Morgan KBK Writing Essentials

Shenetra Moses Baxter International

Dr. Mark Neighbors Opelika City Schools

Dr. Linda North Southern Union State Community College

Jerry Ray Southern Insurance Consultants

Jon Thompson Auburn University

Ronnie Wilson The Brown Agency

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Vivian Anthony Office ManagerDinah Motley Marketing & Communications Mackenzie Kayler Programs & Events Pam Powers-Smith President Jill Robinson Membershipst

aff

Letter from the Chamber President & Board Chair

Business Over Breakfast (winter & spring)

Small Business of the Quarter (winter & spring)

Women’s Business Council

Here We Grow Again

Small Business Workshop

State of the City with Mayor Gary Fuller

US Chamber News

Calendar of Events

welcome

President Board Chair

Spring has sprung! And Opelika looks great! Every spring season is a busy one for everyone, and we here at the Chamber are excited to be keeping up with all of our businesses and all the community happenings. Don’t forget to check our community calendarinadditiontoourChambercalendaronour website at OpelikaChamber.com. Go visit it today, and youmightjustfindsomenewhelpfulthingsonthereforyourbusinessoryourfamily.

Speakingofbeingbusy,ourribboncuttingsfornewbusinessesareatanall-timehigh,andwhatwehopeisthatcitizensareenjoyingalloftheiroptionswhenitcomestobusinessandservicesinourcommunity.Formany,they’rerealizingthattheyhaveeverythingtheyneedattheirfingertipswithinjustacouplemilesoftheirhomes.Weencourageeveryonetogetoutand shop local and support those that have chosen to locate here and invest in our community. Andweinviteyoutoattendourribboncuttings.They’reagreatplacetomeetnewpeopleandmakeconnectionsallwhilesupportinganewbusinessowner.

WewillalsobesayinggoodbyeandgraduatingourstudentsofLeeCountyYoungLeadersand20Under40.Thesetwo leadershipprogramsresidewithintheChamber,andwestrivetoprovidegreatprogramming,learningandrelationshipbuilding.YoungLeadersisforhighschooljuniors,andthisprogramnotonlyexposesthemtomanydifferentcommunityentitiesandthewonderfulpeoplethatleadthem,butitalsoteachespracticalleadershipskillstocarrythemthroughouttherestoftheirlives.20Under40isforcityofOpelikacitizensundertheageof40andgivesparticipantstheopportunitytoseefirsthandhowthecityoperates.Theymakeconnectionswitheachcitydepartmentaswellasgothroughleadershiptraining.We’dlovetotellyoumore about both these programs if you’re interested.

Soaswegetreadytogointosummer,wehopeyou’llenjoyyourspringandkeepupwithusonallofoursocialmediaplatformssothatwecankeepyouinformedoffuneventshappeningrightnow.Andifyoufollowus,thenwe’llgetyoualltheinformationyou need throughout all the seasons of the year!

IftheChambercanbearesourceforyouoryourbusiness,pleasedon’thesitatetocallonusanytime.

www.opelikachamber.com

boardofdirectorsEx-Officio

Mayor Gary Fuller City of Opelika

Lori Huguley City of Opelika Economic Development

Billy Plummer S & S Termite & Pest Control LLC

www.opelikachamber.com

businessoverbreakfast

Dr. Mark Neighbors was the keynote speaker at the winter BusinessOverBreakfast.AgraduateofAuburnUniversity,Neighbors has been in the Opelika City School (OCS) system since 1991. HebeganasprincipaloftheOpelikaMiddleSchoolfor10years before becoming Assistant Superintendent under Dr. Phil Raley. In 2007,NeighborstookoverthereignsofSupertendentforOCS.

EducationrunsdeepinNeighbor’sfamily.Hisdadspent42yearsineducationandhismotherworkedwithspecialneedschildren,soheknowstheimportanceofagoodeducationfoundationthatleadstosuccess.

Neighbors covered several topics that are of interest in the communitysuchasfinances,teaching,educating,ACTscores,careerpaths, achievements and property tax renewal.

IfyouhaveanyquestionsaboutOCS,pleasecall334.745.9700orvisitwww.opelikaschools.org.

Presenting

Dr. Joe Sumners ExecutiveDirector

Government & Economic Development InstituteatAuburnUniversity

AnativeofHarpersville,Alabama,Dr.JoeSumnershasalmost30yearsofoutreachexperienceworkingwithcommunitiesandlocalgovernmentsinAlabama,with extensiveexperienceassistingcommunitieswithstrategicplanningandcivic engagementinitiatives.

Heisconsideredanexpertinthisfieldandhasauthorednumerouspublicationsonthetopicofruraleconomicandcommunitydevelopment,andspecificallythelinkbetween civic engagement and community economic prosperity.

HeservedasatechnicaladvisortotheAlabamaCommissiononTaxandFiscalPolicyReform,theAlabamaTaskForceonEconomicallyDistressedCounties,Alabama’sBlackBeltActionCommission,AlabamaRuralActionCommission,andAlabamaSmallBusinessTaskForce.HeisafoundingBoardmemberoftheAlabamaCommunitiesofExcellenceProgramandisontheBoardofDirectorsforMainStreetAlabamaandtheDavidMathewsCenterforCivicLife.

Dr. Mark NeighborsSuperintendent

Opelika City Schools

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www.opelikachamber.com

smallbusinessofthequarter

Mrs. Story’s Dairy BarLeft to Right: Pam Powers-Smith, Chamber President; Brent Poteet, Opelika Power Services; sponsor of the award, Amber and Blake Boothe, Owners; Carlton Hunley, IV, Chamber Recognition Chair; and Brooke Kastner, Chamber Chair

Mrs. Story’s Dairy Bar

1900 Pepperell ParkwayOpelika, AL 36801

This charming restaurant has remained in a single family for 66 years. Their

chili hotdogs and milkshakes are both listed in the “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama!”

Chick-fil-A in Tiger Town

Chick-fil-A2052 Tiger Town Parkway

Opelika, AL 36801334.741.7112

www.chick-fil-a.com

Left to Right: Carlton Hunley, IV, Chamber Chair - Elect; Derek Lee, Opelika Power Services; Andrew Barnes, Chick-fil-A; and Pam Powers-Smith, Chamber President

Chick-fil-A is well known for their community involvement and

charitable giving. The Tiger Town location is the second-highest

Chick-fil-A in Alabama for sales volume.

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sor

women’sbusinesscouncil

Keynote Luncheonwith Dominique Love

Entrepreneur, philanthropy expert and lover of food and drink – especially the Southern variety – DominiqueLovehasbuiltacareeronherpassionsfromworkingwithIWSCGroupNorthAmericatocommunity,andfoundingtheAtlantaFood&WineFestival. ApassionforcommunityandgivingbackledLovetoacareerinphilanthropy,whichincludedworkasafundraisingconsultantgeneratingmorethan70Mfornonprofitorganizations,leading corporatecontributionsandemployeeengagementforTheCoca-ColaCompany,andcreating CorporateCommunityOutsourcing(CCO),aphilanthropicconsultancythathelpedcorporationsandnonprofitsmaximizetheircommunityimpact.CCOcounted,amongothers,AmericanExpress

Publishing,TheCoca-ColaCompany,DeltaAirLines,NASCAR,NewellRubbermaid,andTimeWarnerasclients.

Loveandherbusinesspartner,ElizabethFeichter,foundedtheAtlantaFood&WineFestival.TheFestivaldebutedin2011asthefirstculinaryweekendinthenationdedicatedtoshininganinternationalspotlightontherichfoodandbeveragetraditionsoftheSouthfromTexastoD.C.

Sports Series: Biking Amanda James James Bros. BikesJohnF.Kennedysaid,“Nothingcomparestothesimplepleasureofridingabike.” How long has it beensinceyourodeabike?Well,bikingisn’tjustforyoungpeopleanymore.

AmandaJamesspoketoagroupofwomenoverbreakfastaboutridingbikes.Whetherforpleasureorexercise,bikingoffersasenseoffreedomandmobilitythathasmadeapopularcomebacktoday.

Amandadiscussedthemanydifferentbikesandtheirusage,theproperwaytorideabike,the safetyissues,andbikingclubs.Thisladies’groupevengottotryouttheirbicycleskills.

JamesBros.Bikesisafullservicebicycleshopspecializinginsales,serviceandrentals. TheyworkwithseveralentitiesincludingtheOpelikaBicycleAdvisoryCommitteeandtheMorris Avenue School program called bikology.

Get Healthy in 2019--------------Ride a Bike!

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sor

www.opelikachamber.com

For more information about the Women’s Business Council, visit OpelikaChamber.com or call 334.745.5861.

BETTER BODIES MASSAGE INSTITUTE

THERAPYSOUTH

DYNA-LIFT

RESTING PULSE BREWING COMPANY

MIRACLE EAR

CRAFTMASTER PRINTERS, INC.

BETHESDA LEARNING ACADEMY

J. DEAN INSURANCE

THE WAREHOUSE BISTRO

HUGHSTON HOMES

EXPRESSIONS DESIGN GALLERY

GROOME TRANSPORTATION OF ALABAMA

OGLETREE DEAKINS

FIRING PIN SHOOTING SPORTS

SMG LAKE HARDING

TRU BY HILTON AUBURN

GREAT WOLF LODGE GEORGIA

HUGHSTON HOMES

SANDY WAGER HOMES, LLC TOLAND REALTY

PATSY EDGE WHITE HOMELINK REALTY

CAKEITECTURE BAKERY

LEDGER GREEN SOLUTIONS

EUROPEAN WAS CENTER

WELCOME new members .......................... January - April 2019

herewegrowagain

Big Blue Crawfish 2611PepperellParkway,Opelika

East University Veterinary Hospital 1675E.UniversityDrive,Auburn

Borland Benefield6749SocietyHillRoad,Opelika

TherapySouth 2701FrederickRoad,Opelika

Warehouse Bistro 105RocketAvenue,Opelika

El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant814 Geneva Street, Opelika

Onin Staffing2805FrederickRoad,Opelika

Staffing Connections 2107PepperellParkway,SuiteC,Opelika

Southern Union State Community College

1701LafayetteParkway,Opelika

First South Farm Credit 1613FrederickRoad,Opelika

www.opelikachamber.com

smallbusinessworkshopMAXIMIZE YOUR

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIPWouldn’tyouliketoknowhowtomakethemostoutofyourChambermembers?Apparentlymanydid,sotheOpelikaChamberstaffhostedaSmallBusinessWorkshop,”MaximizeYourChamberMembership”onMarch19attheOpelika-AuburnNews Community Room.

TheChamberhasmoreresources,opportunities,andbenefitsavailabletoitsmembersthaneverbefore.Thisvaluablework-shopcoveredmanytopicsincludingregistration,payingonline,marketingopportunities,committeessponsorships,publications,leadership programs and all the events that can help your business.

ContacttheChambertodayandletushelpyou“upyourgame”inyourbusiness!

herewegrowagain

O TOWN ICE CREAM

GRIFF GOODS

WHISTLE STOP BREW SHOP

HOMETOWN FURNITURE& APPLIANCE

FETCH ME DELIVERY

CENTER FOR VEIN RESTORATION

SIGN ESSENTIALS

WELCOME new members .......................... January - April 2019

Carswell Agency Group 2352PepperellParkway,Opelika

Stone Martin Builders Auburn Opelika Lifestyle Group

Rocky Brook Road, Opelika

Fetch Me Delivery 1500PumphreyAvenue,Auburn

Firing Pin Shooting Sports 2195FirstAvenue,Opelika

Resting Pulse Brewing Company 714FirstAvenue,Opelika

O Town Ice Cream 700SecondAvenue,Opelika

Griff Goods 719FirstAvenue,Opelika

www.opelikachamber.com

stateofthecity

Over300wereinattendencetohearOpelika’sMayorGaryFullerspeakattheChamber’sState of the City luncheon in February.

Fuller,whohasbeenmayorfor14years,expressedhisappreciationandgratitudeto those who years ago had the foresight to make decisions that would greatly impact our city today.

TheeconomicforecastforOpelikalooksbright.Hewashappytoreportthat“Opelika hasflourishedtobecomeonewithcuttingedgetechnologies,amazingdowntown amenities,avibrantworkforceandgoodjobopportunities.” Prosperityisevidencedbyourupwardtrendoverthepastfiveyears.TheCityhasseenagrowthinworldclasscompaniesthathaveinvestedmorethan$700millionandcreatedan

additional710goodpayingjobs.NewretaildevelopmentsarecurrentlyunderwayinTigerTown,PepperellParkway,USATownCenter,SaugahatcheeSquareandmore.“DowntownOpelika,whichistheheartbeatofourCity,hasbecomea destinationlocationforshopping,diningandentertainment,”saidFuller.Twoadditionalhotelsopenedin2018,aswellas thegrandadditionoftheSpaattheAuburnMarriottOpelikaResortandSpa.NewjobsbringnewresidentstoOpelikawhichmeansnewhomeconstructionwhichisatanalltimehigh.

Whilethereisalotofgoodnews,therearechallenges.OnenotableinitiativethathasbeensetinmotionisaCommissiononCrimeandViolence.Thecommitteeisfocusedonfamilies,youth,educationandresources.

“Thefutureisbright,butwecannotrestonourlaurels.Ourcitycouncil,departmentheadsandcityemployeeshaveworkedtirelesslytobringpositiveimprovementstoyouandourcommunity.And2019,weplantocontinuetoworktogetherforthegreatergoodforall,”saidFuller.

byth

enum

bers $700 Million Investment

from Industry

710 Additional Jobs

$32 Million Total Sales Tax Revenue

250 New Homes

115 Single Family Lots Ready for

Contruction

250 New Homes

115 Single Family Lots Ready for Contruc-

tion

700 Lots Under Review for Development

204 AdditonalApartment Units

590 Building Permits ($127.6 Million)

New Police Department & Municipal Court

Completed Fall 2019

5,000 Calls in 2018 Fire Department

Pickle Ball Stadium Sportsplex

Renovations to Parks

Lots of RoadConstruction

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www.opelikachamber.com

uschambernewsThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce (COC) is the world’s largest business federation representing

the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. For more information on the following

articles and others (topics below), visit www.uschamber.com.

Pictures in articles are from the U.S. Chamber website.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 5 Reasons We Support the U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement

“As the USMCA Coalition launches, we and our partners from all across the business and agriculture community are rolling up our sleeves to make sure this agreement gets the seal of approval from Congress – and soon.” Tom Donohue

Essential to U.S. Manufacturers and FarmersU.S.-manufacturedgoods exports to Canada and Mexico supportthejobsofmorethan2 million men and women at more than43,000manufacturingfirms acrosstheUnitedStates.MostU.S. manufacturingsectors(38outof42) andmoststates(46outof50)count CanadaorMexicoastheirfirstor second-largestforeignpurchasers.

U.S.agriculturalexportstoCanada and Mexico quadrupled from $8.9 billionin1993to$39billionin2017, and the two countries are top marketsforU.S.grains,dairyprod- ucts, meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables.Nearlyone-thirdofU.S. agricultural exports went to our NorthAmericanneighborsin2017.

Brings trade into the 21st Century TheUSMCAincludessomeofthe mostinnovativeruleseverachieved

inaU.S.tradeagreement.When NAFTAwasnegotiatedaquarter centuryago,therewasnoe-com- merce, but thetal trade chapter in theUSMCAisthebestevernegoti- ated, by any country. Similarly, the new agreement protects classes of intellectual property, such as biologics,thattheoldNAFTAdid not for the simple reason that they had not yet been invented.

Boosts American Small Businesses Canada and Mexico are the top twoexportdestinationsforU.S. smallandmedium-sized enterprises,morethan120,000 of which sell their goods and services in our two North Americanneighbors.Whenan American small business starts exporting,it’salmostalwaysto Canada or Mexico.

Powers the Service EconomyU.S.servicesexportstoCanada andMexicotripledfrom$27billion in1993to$91billionin2017,but America’shighlycompetitive businessservicessectorcontinues toenjoyexceptionalexport growth.

It’s no secret that the Chamber has longsupportedthebenefitsoffreeand open trade. Selling more of our goodsandservicestothe95%oftheworld’s consumers who live outside ourbordersiscrucialtocreatingAmerican jobs, helping small businesses, and keeping our edge in a fiercelycompetitiveworldeconomy.

That’swhywesupporttradeagree-mentssuchastheUnited-States- Mexico-CanadaAgreement(USMCA).

Supports 11 Million JobsTheUSMCAallowsAmericansto trademorethan$3.5billioningoods and services with our North American neighbors every day, or roughly$1.3trillionannually,which supports more than 11 million Americanjobs.Infact,49U.S.states count Canada or Mexico as one of their top three merchandise export markets.

Agriculture & Food SafetyDebt & DeficitEducationEnergyEnvironment

Financial RegulationFree SpeechFederal ContractingHealth ContractingImmigration

InfrastructureIntellectual Property International Trade & InvestmentLabor

Legal ReformNat’l & Cyber Security Regulatory ReformRetirementTaxes

TechnologyTransportationTravel & Tourism

www.opelikachamber.com

www.opelikachamber.com

INFRASTRUCTURE: Small Businesses Still Optimistic but Poor Infrastructure is a Road Block

our infrastructure systemintothe21stcentury. And the businessesthattheU.S.Chamberrepresents are dependingonit,”saidTomDonohue,U.S.ChamberPresidentandCEO.

TheIndexalsonotedhowmuchsmall business owners consider commu-nicationstechnologiestobecriticalinfrastructure pieces.

Eighty-fivepercentofthosesurveyedsaidhigh-speedinternetisimportantor very important to their success. That’sahigherpercentagethanthosewho said the same about local roads and bridges.

“TheIndexresultsaddtoamountainofevidencethatAmerica’sinfrastruc-tureisn’tmeetingthedemandsof

today’s business owners and today’s economy.Thisshouldbeawake-upcalltoleadersinWashington:It’stimetoinvestinmodernizingournation’sinfrastructure.”

U.S. Chamber’s Infrasture Modernization Plan

A Modest Increase in the Federal Fuel Fee

Expand Financing Options, like Public/Private Partnerships, for Local Communities

Streamline the Permitting Process to Get Projects Off the Ground

Develop a Skilled Workforce to Build these Projects

Smallbusinessconfidencetookahitinthefirstquarteroftheyear, accordingtotheMetLife&U.S.Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index,butconfidenceisstillstrong.

TheIndex,thisquarter,focusedoninfrastructureissues.Likemost Americans, small businesses rely on infrastructure to get work done and have concerns with the quality of the roads.

Sixty-twopercentratedlocalroadsand bridges as average, poor, or very poorquality.U.S.highwaysdidn’tratemuchbetter.Fifty-twopercenthadthesame opinion of them.

“Ourlong-termcompetitivenessandlastingprosperityrequireustobring

HEALTH CARE: ‘Medicare for All’ isn’t the Health Care Reform Americans Want

taxpayersthatprovidesessentialhealthcare to all Americans and eliminates private health insurance plans, including those provided by employers.”

Thepollfound76%wouldratherseeCongress focus on lowering health care costs for all Americans than createanewgovernment-runhealthcaresystem,financedbytaxpayersthatprovidesessentialhealthcareto all Americans and eliminates privatehealth insurance plans, including those provided by employers.

“MedicareforAll”isthehottalkinhealth care policy. Bills have been in-troducedinCongressandpresidentialcandidates have jumped into the fray weighing in on the proposal on the campaign trail.

Whenasked,mostvotersbelieveitis“asystemthatensuresthatallAmericans have access to health care services and insurance through a mix of private health care and govern-ment programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.”

Fewerthanone-in-fivevoterspolled couldidentifyitas“agovernment-runhealthcaresystem,financedby

While voters want all Americans to have access to

health care, they don’t see a one-size-fits all,

big government system as the answer.

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ofev

ents CHAMBER

COMMUNITY

7 Annual Member Golf Tournament 9 First South Farm Credit Business After Hours14,28 20 Under 40 Session 17 Hometown Furniture & Appliances Ribbon Cutting 23 Auburn Opelika Lifestyle Group Business After Hours

1,8, 15 Noon Tunes at Courthouse Square 22, 293,17,31 Goodwill Leadership Training 3-5 ARM Bike Ride Across Alabama 4 Storybook Farm: Kentucky Derby Day 4-5 AU Graduation4 Garden in the Park7, 14 Summer Swing at the Monkey Park21, 289 Five Fifty Run / Walk for Mental Health9-12 SUSCC Graduation10 Southside Speakeasy Event11 EAMC’s Fit to Fight Event14 Family Discovery Hike23 - 26 LPGA Symetra Tour at Grand National24-26 Opelika Songwriter’s Festival

MayCHAMBER

COMMUNITY

The Gauge is a quarterly publication of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. If you would like to be a sponsor of The Gauge, please call 334.745.4861 or email Dinah, dmotley@opelikachamber.com.

601 Avenue A Opelika 334.745.4861 www.opelikachamber.com. . .

June

3 Lee County Courthouse Ribbon Cutting & Business After Hours19 U.S. Chamber Luncheon24 Legislative Reception

1 Touch-A-Truck1 Burger Wars1 Pursell Farms: An Evening of Pop Art Painting with Art of Spanjer & Oregon Pinot Wines14,28 Goodwill Leadership Training21 Alzheimer’s Association: The Longest Day

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