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Nov 12, 2019

Cheers to the Mobile business community, and the continued advancement of this economy. The prosperity that we're seeing, I think we've only scratched the surface. - Bill Sisson

In this episode, Karen and guest host Michelle Crowe talk with the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bill Sisson. Bill gives us his insights and the lay of the land for the Mobile, Alabama business environment. He also shares all the leadership resources available, networking opportunities, and all the ways for a local business to get the most out of their local chamber. Plus, Michelle Crowes explains how "Mobile is really a small town that acts like a big city" and why that a good thing.

 

This episode is sponsored by Payroll Vault - Mobile, Alabama
Click here to schedule your FREE Payroll Audit with Cadie.



Key Takeaways

Your local Chamber of Commerce has a ton of FREE educational and leadership resources to help grow your business.

When considering a Chamber membership, always think about what do you want to get out of your membership.

The most significant change in Mobile has been more and more focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.

Competition is good, don't see other people as competition. Consider feeding your market.

Don't stay in your bubble. Think about how large your business market can be.

 

Resources

Bill Sisson -  Twitter  |  LinkedIn

Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce  -  Website  |   Facebook

Michelle Crowe  -  e-worc website |  LinkedIn

 

Learn more about Karen Simmons & Cadie Gaut



Karen Simmons

Payroll Vault - Mobile & Baldwin Counties

 


Cheers To:

It's hard to define business chambers because each one takes on the character of whatever community in which they're located.

A chamber is only as good as its membership, and we would not be a chamber without that membership.

Over 95% of businesses are classified as small in the Mobile, Alabama, metropolitan region.

When considering a Chamber membership, always think about what do you want to get out of that membership. Then let us see if we can help you connect in the ways that will be a value add for you and your business. We are a large Chamber and have a big portfolio of opportunities for people to get involved.

We have this tremendous talent here in the Mobile community. Really smart people are working very hard in various sectors. I think that's something to be proud of.

The most significant change in Mobile has been more and more focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. The entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Mobile has exceeded my expectations in ways that I would have never imagined.

There are some 28,000 micro-businesses in this area, and this shows me that we have a lot of pent up demand for entrepreneurial activity.

What's unique about Mobile is that people are willing to work together and ready to come to the table together. And even though we're a fairly large metropolitan area, we culturally work like a small town.

You don't talk about people in Mobile because it's a big small town. Somebody knows somebody.

I've been here going on 17 years, and I still have every week have what I call a Mobile Moment where I realized that somebody is related to somebody, or is an ex-wife, or a best friend.

What I like about the Mobile Business community is that people feel like they can be a part of something here.

I think everybody truly wants to help each other out.

I have found tenfold that if you help somebody else succeed, you're succeeding.

Our phrase at the office is that we are a small town acting like a big city.

The Mobile Mayor is everywhere, and I'm starting to wonder if there's more than one of them.

I often hear that from newcomers to Mobile is just how connected everybody is here.

I think we do that through entrepreneurship, and making sure that minority businesses that are starting up are getting the support network that they need to be successful so that we can grow that part of our population.

Let's not be in a bubble. We need to be thinking about how large our market can be.

What a lot of people are surprised about mobile is just how international it is. Eight of our top 10 manufacturers are internationally based. We have a lot of people from other countries that live here. So our market is global. And our small businesses need to realize that as well.

Anybody who says there's nothing to do in Mobile, they're not trying to find something to do.