Roane Alliance expands Chamber program, hires two, adds member benefits

The Roane County Chamber of Commerce now has two full-time employees, bringing more attention to members and adding member benefits through additional products and programs, a press release said.

Paulette Ray, director of Chamber operations, has returned to the Alliance to work “hand-in-hand with businesses to help them grow and succeed,” the press release said. Ray previously worked as the Chamber membership coordinator from 2007 to 2009 and has continued to work with the Alliance as a volunteer while running her own business, South Eastern Clogging Company, a dance and exercise studio in Kingston, which she owned for 28 years. A graduate of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives, she has also completed her first year of Institute for Organizational Management, and is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Roane County.

Ray is a longtime resident of Roane County, a 1990 graduate of Roane County High School, and she attended Roane State Community College. In her spare time, she continues to teach, judge, and choreograph clogging and is also a ZUMBA fitness instructor in the county. She resides in Kingston with her husband, Daniel, along with four of their five children. Ray also has a married daughter living in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, with her husband who is currently serving in the Army.

Excited about returning to the Chamber, Ray said: “As a previous small business owner, I know how important membership to the Roane County Chamber is. Membership demonstrates a commitment to helping with the improvement of Roane County’s economic vitality and quality of life, and in return, members gain a competitive advantage through the benefits, networking and growth opportunities as well as small business counseling that is necessary to be successful!”

Lindsey Stevens has also been hired as the Chamber member services coordinator. Stevens is a 2008 graduate of the University of Tennessee, with a degree in communication studies, and a 2004 graduate of Roane County High School. Her previous work history includes sales at the Hilton Knoxville, and before coming to the Alliance, she worked in the development and public relations office at Michael Dunn Center.

She loves spending time with her husband Terry and their young daughter Brooklyn, the press release said.

“I am very excited to be working at The Roane Alliance and look forward to meeting our Chamber members,” Stevens said. “I will be working to help members build relationships that can benefit their business and help them grow, which in turn strengthens the Roane County Chamber so we can accomplish great things for our community.”

Chambermaster is an exciting new member management software that the Roane Alliance implemented in August. Not only will Chambermaster be a great tool for the Alliance staff in day-to-day activities, but also provides added benefit for Roane Chamber members. With the new software, members will be able to have access to their own online information on the Chamber website with the ability to update their information as needed, offer special deals, add photos, provide links to their website and social media sites, and much more. With this software, members will be able to easily promote their business, the press release said.

The Chamber is a partner in The Roane Alliance—Roane County’s economic development organization. The partners who operate under the Alliance umbrella along with the Chamber include the Industrial Development Board and Visitors Bureau. To learn more about how the Roane Alliance promotes economic development and seeks increased opportunities for all Roane County citizens, visit www.roanealliance.org.