In an effort to generate more certified minority and women-owned businesses in Shelby County, the Greater Memphis Chamber will host its first joint certification fair with the county on Jan. 23.

At the event, which will be held at the 6200 Poplar Ave. Regions Bank branch from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., minority and women business owners will be able to take advantage of a free and streamlined certification process.

2. Tenth Anniversary of Minority Business-Focused Forum on Tap - Monday, June 26, 2017

The 10th anniversary gathering of the Economic Development Forum will bring together top decision-makers and business executives when it convenes June 27-29 at the Guest House at Graceland.

The forum is produced by the Mid-South Minority Business Council Continuum and the Memphis MBDA Business Center.

3. Whitehaven Unveils New Development Direction - Friday, June 16, 2017

It’s been 10 months since Rev. Earle Fisher was among the individuals turned away from Graceland’s annual candlelight vigil by Memphis police in a reaction to possible protests at the event.

4. Whitehaven Leaders Unveil New Economic Development Group - Thursday, June 15, 2017

It’s been 10 months since Rev. Earle Fisher was among those turned away from Graceland’s annual candlelight vigil by Memphis Police in a reaction to possible protests at the vigil commemorating the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death.

5. Memphis Chamber Sets Goal for Local, Minority Contracts - Friday, April 21, 2017

The Greater Memphis Chamber has set a goal of 600 new business-to-business contracts for minority- and women-owned enterprises and locally-owned firms by the end of the year.

The goal, split 50-50 between the two kinds of contracting and hiring by private businesses, was announced Thursday, April 20, at the chamber’s quarterly Small Business Council breakfast in East Memphis.

6. The Week Ahead: March 20-26 - Monday, March 20, 2017

Happy Monday, Memphis! It’s the first day of spring, and a bounty of social gatherings, government meetings and business events are in bloom. Check out our top picks in The Week Ahead…

7. Leave Your Car Home Event Slated March 22 - Saturday, March 18, 2017

A group of local leaders will host an event Wednesday, March 22, to explore how Memphis can secure dedicated funding that grows and improves the city’s transportation system.

The event, part of the “How To Leave Your Car at Home” series, will be facilitated by Suzanne Carlson of Innovate Memphis, Memphis Area Transit Authority commissioner Andre Gibson, Smart City Memphis’ Tom Jones and John Paul Shaffer of the Community Development Council of Greater Memphis. They will share their thoughts on moving Memphis transit forward.

8. Leave Your Car Home Event Slated March 22 - Friday, March 17, 2017

A group of local leaders will host an event Wednesday, March 22, to explore how Memphis can secure dedicated funding that grows and improves the city’s transportation system.

The event, part of the “How To Leave Your Car at Home” series, will be facilitated by Suzanne Carlson of Innovate Memphis, Memphis Area Transit Authority commissioner Andre Gibson, Smart City Memphis’ Tom Jones and John Paul Shaffer of the Community Development Council of Greater Memphis. They will share their thoughts on moving Memphis transit forward.

9. Chamber’s Gibson Named To National Board - Saturday, November 14, 2015

Andre Gibson, the Greater Memphis Chamber’s membership coordinator, has been appointed to the board of directors of the American Public Transportation Association and the American Public Transportation Foundation.

10. Chamber’s Gibson Named To National Board - Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Andre Gibson, the Greater Memphis Chamber’s membership coordinator, has been appointed to the board of directors of the American Public Transportation Association and the American Public Transportation Foundation.

11. Memphis Chamber Hires Member Services Head - Saturday, August 22, 2015

The Greater Memphis Chamber has added Andre Gibson as member services coordinator, the primary liaison for the organization’s members.

12. Memphis Chamber Hires Member Services Head - Tuesday, August 18, 2015

The Greater Memphis Chamber has added Andre Gibson as member services coordinator, the primary liaison for the organization’s members.

13. Bible Joins Shea Moskovitz & McGhee - Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Kirkland Bible has joined family law firm Shea Moskovitz & McGhee as an associate. In her new position, Bible will represent clients in a variety of family law matters, including divorce, post-divorce and child custody matters.

14. Entrepreneur Day Spotlights Power of Innovation - Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Already in recent weeks, Moziah “Mo” Bridges, the 12-year-old founder of the Memphis-based Mo’s Bows bow tie business, has appeared on the hit ABC show “Shark Tank.”

If the exposure alone wasn’t enough, Bridges also impressed fashion mogul and “Shark Tank” panelist Daymond John into offering to mentor him.

15. Memphis Habitat Names New Board Members - Monday, July 25, 2011

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis has announced board members for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

They are Kofi Appah, managing director of FedEx Express; Ed Clark, retired president and chief executive officer of FedEx Trade Networks; Tom Faller, IT manager at FedEx Corp.; Andre Gibson, systems integration administrator at Buckman USA; and Debra Owings, president of Retail Management Service.

16. Gibson Honored as Part of ‘30 Under 30’ List - Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Andre Gibson, chair of the Memphis City Beautiful Commission and vice president of the Memphis Urban League Young Professionals, has been named among Rosewood Hotels’ national 30 Under 30 campaign.

17. Urban League Honors ‘Agents of Change’ - Tuesday, December 21, 2010

With a panoramic view of city lights from the 33rd floor of the Clark Tower, 300 Memphians gathered Friday night to honor outstanding young minority professionals during the inaugural Agents of Change Awards Gala.

18. Charter Commission Approves 25-Member Council - Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Size matters in local government. Witness this week’s debate by Metro Charter Commissioners about the size of a metro council. The structure of the local legislative body is one of the most important elements of the proposed consolidation charter the group is drafting. The charter goes to voters on the Nov. 2 ballot.

19. Services Split Raises Suburban Questions - Tuesday, June 8, 2010

The Metro Charter Commission took a first step last week toward defining which services of a consolidated government would go into which taxing district.

The listing of services in each of two taxing districts – urban services and general services – is a first step to determining the tax shift or split. (See June 3 story at www.memphisdailynews.com)

20. Charter Commission Continues Work on Mayoral Limits - Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Metro charter commissioners wanted to do more than send a message last week as they set guidelines for the office of metro mayor in a consolidated local government.

Several commissioners felt they had to discourage voters from making choices based too much on simple name recognition.

A proposed limit of two consecutive four-year terms on the mayor’s office was the setting for the larger debate. The charter commission’s recommendation, which is preliminary, would allow someone to be elected and serve two terms, sit out four years and then run again.

Those are the term limits now in place for most county offices. The same limits take effect for Memphis mayor and the City Council in 2011.

Other charter commissioners cited the recent election of Walter Bailey to the Shelby County Commission this year. Bailey ran for re-election in 2006 despite term limits, but lost to J.W. Gibson. After sitting out four years, Bailey was elected to the County Commission again without opposition.

Gibson, who serves on the charter commission, is among those who say term limits should not bar someone from running again after sitting out a term.

But charter commissioner Rufus Washington said local voters are guided in too many cases solely by name recognition and endorsements made in ballots handed to them as they walk into polling places.

“They don’t know who they are voting for,” he said. “We don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a city and a community that has some of the most innovative businesses in the world. But I think our politics is about the 17th century. I said it and I’m glad I said it.”

“You have people that make statements, ‘Nobody can run this city but me’ (and) ‘God put me here.’ That’s offensive to me,” Washington said, referring to former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton. “Sometimes people don’t know what’s best for them.”

He also referred to Bailey’s re-election.

“You can’t tell me that these are the only people that have the ability to run this city. … I take issue with that. I take the same position at the national level. We need a house cleaning,” he said.

Former Collierville Mayor Linda Kerley said the problem isn’t limited to Memphis politics. She agreed the charter commission should try to interrupt the political pattern with the charter proposal.

“We need to somehow make a very strong statement,” she said. “We don’t need to put a person in a position where they can falter. … We are not looking at the integrity of the position.”

The Rev. Ralph White proposed a compromise of three consecutive terms with no option to then sit out a term and serve again if elected a fourth time.

But before any of the alternatives to two consecutive terms could be moved, the commission’s conversation veered into the requirement that candidates be 21 or older, and other qualifications.

White proposed raising the minimum age to run for mayor to 25 years old. That and another motion to leave the minimum age at 30 each failed to get enough votes, so the 21-year benchmark remained.

Commission vice chair Andre Fowlkes, who is 32, argued for a 25-year-old age minimum.

“That’s a pretty bright person. I mean, let’s really think about it. They are rallying an entire city to vote for them and give them the majority to win. … They must be doing something right,” he said.

Commissioner Chris Patterson saw problems in that argument.

“If the simple ability to get elected – to organize your friends – if that’s the test, then term limits is off the table and you can just drop to 18 (years old) by default. To me, that can’t be the reason that you do it,” he said.

Fowlkes argued a candidate younger than 30 years old for mayor would, as a matter of practical politics, have to convince older voters since voter participation is lower among younger voters.

Read more about the work of the Metro Charter Commission in the current edition of The Memphis News, which can be found at The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

21. How to Build a Government in 71 days - Monday, May 24, 2010

The idea of consolidation is a political perennial in Memphis, but the details of merging Memphis and Shelby County governments are much more elusive.

The Metro Charter Commission’s formation last year represented the most meaningful move toward consolidation in almost 40 years.

22. Charter Commission to Examine Metro Mayoral Powers - Thursday, May 20, 2010

The Metro Charter Commission will take a second look at a civil service system for a proposed consolidated government Thursday.

The group drafting a proposed consolidation charter for the November ballot will also discuss what powers a metro mayor should have.

23. Small Businesses Could Land More Government Contracts - Friday, March 5, 2010

Small businesses account for 11 percent of the contracts Shelby County government awards on an annual basis.

But interim Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford rolled out a report Thursday that sets a 20 percent goal along with a campaign to raise awareness among small businesses that they can get a piece of the county’s business.

24. Metro Charter Commission to Choose Chair - Tuesday, November 10, 2009

The first order of business today will be selecting a leader. It’s become a familiar note in political daily planners these days.

The Metro Charter Commission holds its first meeting today on the third floor of the Shelby County Courthouse.

25. Commission to Revisit Charter Appointments Today - Monday, October 12, 2009

Approving mayoral appointments to boards and commissions is usually the quickest part of the Shelby County Commission’s agenda. It’s normally a routine vote.

That won’t be the case today.

The commission will meet this afternoon starting at 1:30 p.m. at the County Administration Building Downtown. A full agenda for the meeting is available at The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

26. Metro Charter Appointments Win Recommendation - Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Shelby County Commissioners Wednesday recommended all 10 of County Mayor A C Wharton’s appointees to a metro charter commission.

The commission, which will include five people appointed by the Memphis mayor and confirmed by the City Council, will draft a charter proposal to consolidate Memphis and Shelby County governments.

27. Wharton Turns in 10 Names for Consolidation Commission - Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton Jr. has come up with 10 appointees to a metro charter commission and has sent the names to the Shelby County Commission for approval.

The commission will consider the appointments Wednesday in committee sessions. The full commission is scheduled to vote on the names later this month.

28. Wharton Turns in 10 Names for Consolidation Commission - Monday, October 5, 2009
 

Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton Jr. has come up with 10 appointees to a metro charter commission and has sent the names to the Shelby County Commission for approval.

The commission will consider the appointments Wednesday in committee sessions. The full commission is scheduled to vote on the names later this month.

The nominees are:

•Millington Mayor Richard L. Hodges

•Former Collierville Mayor Linda Kerley

•County Commissioner J.W. Gibson of Memphis

•Julie Ellis, an attorney at Butler Snow PLLC

•Lou Etta Burkins, FedEx Express project engineer of unincorporated Shelby County

•Andre Fowlkes, Memphis Small Business Chamber executive director

•Billy Orgel, Tower Ventures developer, of Memphis.

•Chris Patterson, an attorney at Wiseman Bray PLLC of Germantown

•The?Rev??Randolph Meade Walker, pastor of Castalia Baptist Church

•Rufus Washington, retired U.S. Marine and president of Southeast Shelby County Coalition

The charter commission is to draft the proposed structure of a consolidated city and county government. The draft will then be taken to voters in Memphis and Shelby County outside of Memphis in a pair of referenda set for Nov. 2010.

The proposed charter must pass in each referendum to become the new structure of local government.

The consolidation charter would not have the effect of consolidating the six suburban municipalities outside Memphis into the proposed new consolidated government. But it would probably affect the delivery of services to Arlington, Bartlett, Collerville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington and from what is now Shelby County government.

The Memphis mayor has five appointments to the metro charter commission. But in approving the creation of the commission last month, the City Council also said it would not vote on appointees by the Memphis mayor until its Oct. 20 meeting. That means whoever wins the Oct. 15 election will make the appointments.

If Wharton wins the special election, he could make those five appointments as well as the 10 he’s forwarded to the County Commission. But Wharton has said he would not make all 15 appointments in that scenario.

29. Events - Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Talk Shoppe will host a presentation by Jim Piatchek and Jo Garner titled “Speed Networking that is Out of this World” today from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South, 3693 Tyndale Drive. For more information, call Jo Garner at 482-0354.

30. Events - Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence will hold a workshop today from 8:30 a.m. to noon at its office, 5100 Poplar Ave., Suite 502. Ruth McCambridge, editor of The Nonprofit Quarterly, will be the facilitator. Cost is $99 for members, $150 for nonmembers and $89 for those in the Program for Nonprofit Excellence. For more information, call 684-6605 or visit www.npexcellence.org.

31. Events - Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Talk Shoppe will present “The Master Mind Principle Success Formula” today from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South, 3693 Tyndale Drive. For more information, call Jo Garner at 482-0354.

32. Events - Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet today at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Mike Moffatt, governor of Rotary District 6800, will speak. Lunch is $18 per person and reservations are required. For reservations, e-mail Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

33. Events - Monday, August 24, 2009

The Memphis Symphony Chorus will hold auditions to find new chorus members for the 2009-2010 season today at 6 p.m. at Balmoral Presbyterian Church, 6413 Quince Road. Interested people should call the Memphis Symphony office at 537-2500 or e-mail info@memphissymphonychorus.org.

34. Events - Friday, August 14, 2009

MPACT Memphis will meet for a private lunch with School Board Commissioner Tomeka Hart today at noon at Sole Restaurant, 221 S. Third St. For reservations, contact Andre Gibson at civicengagement@mpactmemphis.org or 528-8340.

35. Events - Thursday, August 13, 2009

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Memphis Chapter will hold its Annual Professional Development Conference today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Simone Joyaux and Tom Ahern, authors of the book “Keep Your Donors: The Guide to Better Communications and Stronger Relations” will speak. Cost is $99 for members and $119 for nonmembers. To register, contact Amanda Kohr at kohra@churchhealthcenter.org or 272-0010, ext.1415.

36. Events - Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Memphis Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America will meet for its monthly luncheon today at 11:45 a.m. at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Jennifer Johnson, principal for Athena Business Communications Strategy, will discuss the future of the press release. The luncheon is free for members, $25 for nonmembers and $15 for students. To register, visit www.prsamemphis.org.

37. Events - Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Shelby County Commission will hold committee meetings today beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the fourth floor committee room of the Shelby County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St. For more information, call Steve Summerall at 545-4301.

38. Events - Tuesday, July 28, 2009

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet today at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Veterinarian Kathy Mitchener will speak about stem cell research. Lunch is $18 per person and reservations are required. For reservations, e-mail Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

39. Events - Monday, July 27, 2009

The Tennessee Beta Unit of Parliamentarians will meet today at 6 p.m. at the Poplar-White Station Branch Library, 5094 Poplar Ave. The educational topic will deal with the role and function of a teller’s committee.

40. Events - Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Talk Shoppe will present “The Master Mind Principle” today from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South, 3693 Tyndale Drive. For more information, call Jo Garner at 482-0354.

41. Events - Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Shelby County Commission will hold meetings today beginning at 9 a.m. at the Shelby County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St. For more information, call Steve Summerall at 545-4301.

42. Events - Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet today at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Kim Fremont Fortunato of Operation Warm will speak. Lunch is $18 per person and reservations are required. For reservations, e-mail Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

43. Events - Monday, April 27, 2009

The University of Memphis today will host the final session of a four-part series of free, public discussions of modern classics in Jewish literature in Room 226 of the University of Memphis McWherter Library. The session will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Asked for Wonder” by Abraham Joshua will be the final book discussed. For more information, call David Patterson at 678-2919, Tom Mendina at 678-4310 or Klaudia Kroboth at 678-2209.

44. Events - Wednesday, February 18, 2009

The Sales and Marketing Society of the Mid-South will host a presentation by James Hutto, managing project director for Valeo Design and Marketing, today at 11:45 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Select, 5795 Poplar Ave. Hutto will present “ROI Marketing for Your Business: Driving Top-Line Growth with Your Website.” Cost is $25 for guests and $15 for students. Lunch is included. Guests may pay at the door.

45. Events - Friday, October 3, 2008

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners will hold an Education Summit today at 9 a.m. at the Fogleman Executive Center, 330 Innovation Drive.

MPACT Memphis will hold a meet and greet with U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., today from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Majestic Grille, 145 S. Main St. For more information, e-mail Andre Gibson at andregibson@gmail.com.

46. Events - Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Talk Shoppe will present “How to Buy and Sell 108 Investment Properties in 180 Days” today from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South, 3693 Tyndale Drive. For more information, call Jo Garner at 759-7808.

47. Events - Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet today at noon in Ballroom B of the Memphis Cook Convention Center, 255 N. Main St. The featured speaker will be Betty Ann Wilson, who will speak on international efforts for water purification. The cost is $18 per person. Reservations are required and can be made to Taylor Hughes at 526-1318 or taylor@memphisrotary.org.

48. Events - Monday, June 16, 2008

The Engineers’ Club of Memphis Inc. will hold its weekly lunch meeting today at noon at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Edwin McLean, regional engineer for CTS Cement Manufacturers, will speak on “The Evolution of Concrete Repairs and Patching: Materials and Methods.” The cost is $12 and no reservations are required.