Takeaways from Amelia: A rolling diary from a Tallahassee Chamber Conference veteran

Dear Tallahassee,

The Chamber Conference is wrapping up with a session lead by Ed Murray from NAI Talcor and the topic is improving our entertainment and hospitality options in our city. This will be followed by my friend Dustin at 223 Agency doing a giveaway, and that’s a wrap to a very diverse weekend with a variety of events to keep the attendees engaged, from speakers to pool parties there is a special window into the North Florida market from all these leaders that attend.

I think the most important takeaway for me is to be able to gather with so many Aegis clients in one place and feel proud that we are a tiny part of their successes. When Sachs Media brings home a load of trophies, I feel pride knowing that they are our partners; same with Premier launching a huge new development or Tri Eagle launching a new beverage.

Being associated with organizations like these and taking pride in their missions is what it is all about — being able to work together on weekends like this for a better Tallahassee is fantastic.

Thank you to the Democrat for the opportunity to share these thoughts and view points on Chamber Conference weekend. There is no other Conference like it, and it it is first class all the way. This year is my 14th conference in a row, I look forward to number 15 and I better get to work soon (as soon as football season is over) on how we will carry the Aegis brand forward in 2020.

Cheers to everyone who attended. Thank you.

5:04 p.m. Saturday - Amelia Island

Dear Tallahassee, 

My Chamber Conference experience took a different turn around 11:30 a.m. as I went from attendee to presenter as part of the CEO Series.

Richard from Applied Fiber, Laura from Coton Colors and I talked about out businesses in one of the break out sessions and it was awesome. First off those two organizations based in our market are worth checking out.

Richard has worked with everyone from the Air Force to Chevron with their synthetic cabling solutions; bringing tons of jobs to our region. Laura from Coton Colors makes amazing products for your home or business and she also brings over 30 jobs to our market thanks to the creative gifts, ornaments and other cool items they make.

Both of these individuals started these firms so my story during the panel was a little different, as I told the story of climbing the ladder from Consultant to CEO at Aegis, which thanks to the audience was a blast to tell, it took 10 years for the actual journey but luckily I was able to sum it up in a few minutes.

There was also football talk and my time with rock and rollers from Gainesville, Sister Hazel.  That was one of my first jobs right out of college; being part of their management team, and as I said in the panel, Mom was really excited I was entering the Rock and Roll world as a career. But it was a blast and through a long series of events, lead me to my role at Aegis.

Thanks Steve Evans, Pam Butler, Jeanne Dowling, Davisson Dunlap and most importantly every team member at Aegis. We have a standard of getting things done at our office called the A-standard, and to see that each and every day of my life is the most inspiring thing I can think of.

Thank you Aegis and thank you to each and every one of our clients for trusting us with your technology. Cheers and on to the next thing. More to come tomorrow. 

Chamber Conference - Saturday 10:35

Dear Tallahassee, 

This morning at the Chamber Conference 500 attendees gathered around 7:30 for breakfast and the opening remarks.

If you don’t know Gary Yordon and his ability to take over a room, make sure to engage with him sometime. The guy has it.

His title is Master of Ceremonies and he mocks, laughs and says a job well done without ruffling a feather — well, maybe besides Mr. Matlow.

The quick comment about not throwing anyone under the bus in regards to the Leon County School was not mean, just funny. Zing! Mistakes happen, I think most people get that. I agree with what Gary said — nice work, Alva and Rocky, for admitting the mistake and moving on to fix it.

Mark from TMH went next and his service to the Chamber as chair is worthy of thanks, as well as anyone who has served in that role. It takes a lot of time and it is a volunteer position 100%.

Not sure if everyone realizes what those in that position put forward to help our community. Next up, Beth with Capital City Bank and a video about enhancing some of our neighborhoods via the CRA and other community resources, as well as updates on the airport. CCBG has a cool new piece of tech to send payments called, "Send" — check it out if you don’t have cash etc.

Then Mr. Tom Fanning of Southern Company: They are the power company folks and he brought a high level view of where our nation is headed in that space, and concerns we should all have in regards to cyber security and potential economic slow downs.

One of messages to the group was to be a “citizen, wherever you serve.”

Referring to any town in the South where they have an office, that office is going to engage the community in a positive way.

Thank you to Gary and Mark for the kind words to me during the chat on our collaboration with the community on our marketing swag, as well as for checking out my columns on the subject.

It takes a village, as they say, cheers to you Team Tallhassee. Now it’s time to get ready for my CEO panel. If you happen to be at the Ritz come on down to Plaza Ballroom 1 to see what sort of ramblings I have in store for the crowd. Too early for football talk? Nah! 

Friday 8:50 - Chamber Conference Welcome Reception
 

Dear Tallahassee, 

What’s that sound, a 747 landing? Nope, that is 700 Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Conference attendees networking at 100 mph.

You have heard of speed networking? Consider this Ludicrous Speed Networking (yes that is a Mel Brooks, SpaceBalls reference boys and girls). One minute we were talking to the WCTV team (Monica, Ben, Katie) then Tom Deison with Hancock Whitney, Daryl at Compass, then Dana from the Chamber, Jay from Ajax, Garvin and Ben from Gardner Bist Law, Alva with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Joel Silver with Live in Tallahassee, Richard from Moore Bass, Dean and Gloria with AMWAT, and this is the first 20 minutes.

If you want to really get out there you could have 50 conversations during this event, if you wanted to. I think 25 would be a better goal however.

What a great opportunity to say thank you to those in your current personal and professional worlds and to make new connections for tomorrow.

There are some serious booths set up also, but one gets the gold medal, Hearth and Soul owned by Susie Busch Transou, she has a entire room set up and it looks awesome, highlighting very cool items from her business.

So in two hours I was able to network with everyone in the Tallahassee community (it seemed like it ) with the exception of the butcher and the candle stick-maker (the baker was there).

We continue in the morning, and I will be participating in a panel with two awesome Tallahassee organizations, Coton Colors, and Applied Fiber; moderated by my friend Sue who runs the Chamber.

It’s going to be a great day on the island, although I will not see any of the outdoors until the Target Print and Mail Water Buffalo Pool party in the afternoon.

I will send more updates tomorrow.

Friday 12:20 p.m.

Today is show time, as they say in Hollywood. It is "show business," not "show friends." But here at the Chamber Conference, there is a chance to do both. That is, have a good time while pushing your message forward for the entity that you represent.

This will certainly be on display in about four hours at the welcome reception, where the roar of conversation sounds like a 747 taking off, no joke. The booths are also almost ready outside the reception. I just checked in with Tracey at Target Print and Mail, and she has her daughter helping her set up — that is how it is done. 

But first the welcome bag. Every attendee gets one when you check in and it is packed with swag items from each of the corporate sponsors of the event as well as as from the Chamber. The work that goes into the bag prep is like a huge trek across the Sahara (see Jay Revell’s blog earlier today).

But from the sponsor side it is also no joke. I usually start about three months out with an idea that I bounce off the Full Press Apparel team (Danny and Tracey Shrine are here) and we start on proofs, puns are created, colors are chosen, etc.

For example, we did a suntan lotion bottle a few years ago that said, “Don’t get burned by your technology” and a deck of cards several years ago that said “Don’t gamble with your tech, call Aegis.”

This year also has an Aegis pun; we put together a charging accessories bag, and it is says “Charging Ahead with Aegis." But we also co-branded a local nonprofit to try something new and help them support their mission. Watch more about that here. 

Without the sponsors represented in this bag, there would not be a Chamber Conference, so let’s see what else we have in here: the Target Print and Mail stone coaster is a home run, the Riley Palmer koozie is simple and functional and the Awards4U charging brick will probably get used today.

Great job by all the sponsors and Chamber staff putting together one epic gift bag. 

**

Thursday 6:21 p.m. 

Dear Tallahassee,

Thanks to the Democrat for the opportunity to give some updates from the front row of the Chamber Conference for your readers.

I will be sending regular updates on The Who and The What is going on at the conference.

Who may wonder why the conference is not in Tally? You have to have it outside of Tallahassee or you would not get people engaging in all the events, people would head home versus all being housed together. (Joyfully trapped to get to know your fellow attendees). 

After 14 years of attending this conference, one thing is also crazy clear. Arriving on Friday, is for young folks.

More:Chamber Conference check in: See who's going this year to Amelia Island

By arriving Thursday, you can beat the traffic and be less frantic as the conference begins on Friday. The vibe at check-in and all over the hotel reminds me of a Rolling Stones concert, the day before.

Load in and set up is taking place all over the property but the majority of the audience does not arrive until tomorrow.

Ballrooms are being cleaned, stages are being built, lights are being set-up, sound is being tested, gift bags are being stuffed and schedules are being shuffled around. I just got the text that my panel (CEO Series) has been moved back an hour.

Chamber and hotel staff are hustling to make sure the place is ready to roar as the Conference gets into full swing. By this time tomorrow, 500 business and community leaders will be networking and engaging in authentic dialogue to grow their businesses and make Tallahassee a better community.

As I sign off for today for my first “postcard,” a shout out to Pam Butler, former Aegis CEO, who tasked me to attend my first Chamber Conference 14 years ago. What a ride it has been for me and for our company. I am grateful and thankful to be here, 14 years (and lots of grey hair) later. Thank you for the opportunity Pam. The view is nice and the post card barrage will continue in the morning. Which way to the bar?

Blake H. Dowling is CEO of Aegis Business Technologies. Have a question about the conference? Email dowlingb@aegisbiztech.com.