KATY RIDDLE’S enthusiasm for her work at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce is contagious. The community’s caught it, too, as proven by the interest and success of the 46th Annual Awards Gala held on January 27, 2022.
“We sold out, and that was with adding two additional tables,” Riddle said. “We had sponsors asking to participate instead of us asking them. That’s never happened. We sold all of our major sponsorships without even promoting them.” Riddle is the director of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
What, exactly, does the chamber do?
Riddle is quick with the answer. The chamber does more than hand out maps to visitors and new residents. It connects businesses with resources and programs to help them succeed. It welcomes new residents and visitors, connecting them with the resources needed to enjoy their visit or live successfully in the community.
On the other side of the coin, they offer additional support and benefits to their members. As a member of the chamber, individuals and businesses invest in their community, are connected with like-minded people, and have their business or organization promoted through the chamber’s resources.
“What we sell is connection. We move Manchester forward one connection at a time,” Riddle said.
Though the chamber staff consists of only Riddle, Katie Anderson, director of membership, and Cindy Davis, administrative assistant, it’s influence and outreach is large.
Members have access to the many resources in the chamber’s toolbelt. Partnerships with Dale Carnegie Training and the Tennessee Small Business Development Center connect members to training and leadership development. Programs include coaching on conflict resolution, employee motivation, and more. Additionally, the chamber directs Coffee County Leadership which engages current and emerging leaders by providing a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of their community.
Chamber members make connections with one another and through referrals. “One of the things I love about Manchester is you can literally do business with your friends and neighbors, and they reciprocate and do business with you. Investing in the chamber is investing in our community, so we can all move forward together,” Riddle said.
The chamber further promotes member businesses through its website, Facebook, Instagram, and a weekly newsletter to increase awareness of a brand or service.
“We serve as an extension of your marketing arm,” Riddle said.
This year’s gala was exciting and celebrated the mutual success of the chamber and its members.
“I think you can always tell about the health of an organization by looking at the engagement of its members, and our gala was an example of that,” Riddle said.
She continued, “An event like this becomes a love story to Manchester. It reflects all the wonderful things going on in the community and the people behind it. And it’s a look forward to what we hope to accomplish throughout the next year.”
At the heart of all the chamber does, is people.
“Without the people, you don’t have any businesses or services,” Riddle said. “We are an organization designed to bring people together; that’s our purpose. We have such great momentum and no plans to stop.” -GN
