It's also the chance to shake some booty.
The Kingsport Chamber of Commerce held its 68th annual dinner at the Meadowview Conference Center, complete with awards, speeches, and dancing to the tunes of the acclaimed band "Party On The Moon," a crowd favorite.
"This was a great outlet for us to attend," says alumni president Douglas Releford. "You get to meet a lot of people, and it also gives us the chance to mingle with the people whose businesses keep the city's economy going and growing. It's a very prestigious event and we are glad to be here."
It's the third banquet for the alumni association, having been a member of the Chamber of Commerce that long.
"This helps us get our name and our community purpose out there as a non-profit organization," Releford says. "Our attendance lets folks in the Kingsport business community know that the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Alumni are active participants in the Kingsport community. We stand ready and able to support the community whenever and wherever necessary."
A SLIDESHOW OF THE CHAMBER DINNER IS BELOW
Attending on behalf of the Sons and Daughters of Douglass, were Releford, his wife Vivian, Andra Watterson, Thelma Watterson, Judy Phillips, Wallace Ross, Jr, Marvin and Cathy Bond, and Ethel Ruth Russell and her son, Scottie Russell.
Billed as "Kingsport's social event of the year," the chamber says the event is the largest chamber annual dinner in the United States. "Kingsport is on a roll," incoming Chamber chairperson Isaac Webb, district manager with Appalachian Power. "We're poised for even greater growth and more success this year and in the years to come."
Presented with the Chamber's Lifetime Member Award, was Betty DeVinney, a former Eastman vice-president. She is the 27th recipient of the award.
Various community projects celebrated by the Chamber and dinner attendees, were Eastman Chemical's growth by acquiring Taminco, a global speciality chemical company in Allentown, PA.... the re-opening of ASG's former Blue Ridge glass plant and the 300 jobs it brings.... the arrival of IntelliHARTx, a health casre revenue cycle business locating 350 to 500 jobs to downtown Kingsport.... the opening of the Tennessee's newest Welcome Center, located on I-26 South between Wilcox Drive and Rock Springs Road.... breaking ground ground for the Kingsport Carousel, featuring 32 hard-carved animals downtown.... the relocating of the Eastman ballfields to "Brickyard Park," the General Shale property behind Dunbar Street in Riverview, known as "Clay Hill" to the local residents (the fields will be known as "The Clay Hill Ballfields").... and of course, the reason for that relocation: construction of Eastman's new $74 million dollar global corporate business center on Wilcox Drive in Riverview, to house 300 new employees on the site of the old ballfields. The building is the centerpiece of the company's $1.3 billion dollar "Project Inspire" project.
Kingsport Chamber president Miles Burdine, who also stopped by the Douglass Alumni table to say hello during the dinner, was named "Executive of the Year" by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This is the first year the award has been bestowed.
And headlining a night of great entertainment, a familar name returned to the Chamber stage. They’ve played at President Obama’s Inaugural…They’ve played for Eli Manning’s Wedding…They’ve played for Donald Trump’s New Year’s Eve Party for the past five years… …and now the Number One Party Band in the Nation came back again to play for the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce Dinner guests..
BELOW IS VIDEO OF ONE OF THE SONGS BY "PARTY ON THE MOON." WE ACTUALLY GOT IN WITH KINGSPORT'S MOVERS & SHAKERS, WHILE THEY WERE "MOVING AND SHAKING!"
