OFFICERS
Bob Buchanan, President
Irma Mitchell, Vice-President
Teresa Sheets, Secretary
Robin McCann, Treasurer

BOARD MEMBERS
Junior Boothe
Jennifer Boyd
Dewitt Cooper
Larry Davidson
Sharon Gemmell
George Hayes
Regina Sayers
Richard Weaver
Susan Weaver
Sara White

STAFF
Pam Meade, Executive Director

CHAMBER HOURS
Monday- Friday
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The de Courcy Law Firm
Felicia de Courcy
decourcylawfirm@gmail.com
Join Date: 11/07/2014

The Lexington of Tazewell
Tina Kwun
Website
tina@lexingtonoftazewell.com
Join Date: 12/30/2014
 

Candlewax Smokeless Fuel Co., Inc.
Sharon Beavers
candlewax@roadrunner.com
Member Since: 03/01/1991
Renewed On: 11/12/2014

Brown Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center
Christopher Brown
Website
chirochrisva@hotmail.com
Member Since: 03/22/2011
Renewed On: 11/21/2014

Olde Virginia Pharmacy
Scott Cole
bibeysp@yahoo.com
Member Since: 05/01/1996
Renewed On: 12/31/2014

Tazewell County Fair Association
Danielle A. Cooper
Website
tazewellcofair@yahoo.com
Member Since: 11/17/1997
Renewed On: 12/17/2014

Town of Tazewell
Todd Day
Website
tazmanager@taztown.org
Member Since: 11/06/1991
Renewed On: 11/26/2014

Ramey Chevrolet, Inc.
Christy D Dunford
Website
cddunford@hotmail.com
Member Since: 11/01/1991
Renewed On: 12/12/2014

Harry Enterprises
Carl Harry
Member Since: 12/01/1999
Renewed On: 12/16/2014

Douglas Hess, CPA
Douglas Hess
Member Since: 07/28/1991
Renewed On: 11/17/2014

Veyance Technologies
David Jewell
david_jewell@veyance.com
Member Since: 03/11/2003
Renewed On: 11/10/2014

Clinch Valley Bank
Gaye Landreth
Website
glandreth@grundynationalbank.com
Member Since: 12/01/2007
Renewed On: 11/21/2014

Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home, Inc.
David T. Larimer
Website
psfh@richl.twcbc.com
Member Since: 12/01/1991
Renewed On: 11/21/2014

Bluefield College
David Olive
Website
dolive@bluefield.edu
Member Since: 05/01/1992
Renewed On: 11/10/2014

Payne Real Estate & Investments, Inc.
Mack Payne
Website
roger237@verizon.net
Member Since: 05/01/1992
Renewed On: 11/10/2014

Cargo Oil Company, Inc.
William A. Peery
Member Since: 11/06/1991
Renewed On: 11/25/2014

Heritage Hall
Jane Pendergrass
Website
jpendergrass@ahc.cc
Member Since: 04/21/2008
Renewed On: 12/10/2014

First Sentinel Bank
Sarah Pilkins
Website
sarahpilkins@firstsentinelbank.com
Member Since: 11/01/1991
Renewed On: 12/31/2014

Kimberly's Greenhouse at Pisgah, LLC
Kim Santolla
Website
kimsantolla@verizon.net
Member Since: 01/19/2010
Renewed On: 12/17/2014

New Wave Creations, Inc.
Gary Sergent
Website
gsergent@newwavecreations.com
Member Since: 08/10/2004
Renewed On: 12/05/2014

Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc.
James Shott
Website
admin@cfvinc.org
Member Since: 08/06/2009
Renewed On: 11/19/2014

Clinch Valley Pharmacy, Inc
Rick Stansbury
Member Since: 12/02/2013
Renewed On: 11/28/2014

Thompson & Litton
Jim Thompson
Website
jthompson@T-L.com
Member Since: 11/23/1994
Renewed On: 11/25/2014

Farm Credit of the Virginia's
Kristen White
Website
kwhite@fcvirginias.com
Member Since: 12/03/2013
Renewed On: 11/25/2014

BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, LLC
Michael T. Wood, Jr.
Website
mwood@scottstringfellow.com
Member Since: 12/05/1995
Renewed On: 11/25/2014
 

The Business Spotlight was on Lemons' Jewelry on Sunday, November 23rd during their open house.  The store started as Pobst Jewelry and later Crawford  Jewelry.  It was added to the Lemons' Jewelry line of stores after Mr. Crawford's retirement.  Cindy Steele serves as store manager.  They are located at 211 E. Main Street in Tazewell, phone 276-988-4450.

203 E. Fincastle Turnpike
(“S” Curve Before Main Street)
276-245-5987
 
The Chamber welcomed Sue Carr and the Donut Diva with a ribbon cutting on November 7th. 
 

E & T Family Restaurant invited the community to a free Christmas Dinner on December 15th along with their open house and ribbon cutting. They are located at 1727 Adria Road (formerly the location of Big Daddy's).
 
                               
 

A ribbon cutting and open house were held on Friday, December 19th for Big Burrittos, located at 104 Carline Road in Tazewell, at the corner of Tazewell Avenue and Carline Road.  Big Burrittos will focus on big burritos and homemade salsa with a limited menu so every burrito will be perfect.  All meals are cooked slow and low with natural hickory and oak wood.  Welcome Big Burrittos and Jessica and Carlos Combs.  For more information call 276-385-1745 or visit their website at www.bigburrittos.com.

The Tazewell Area Chamber of Commerce advances and promotes the interests of businesses in the Tazewell, Virginia area through the development of civic, commercial, agriculture, educational and cultural life of the community.  Any individual, association, company, estate or firm residing in Tazewell County or doing business here is welcome to join!  Our office is located just off 460 at Exit #2 near the Magic Mart Department store.  Our web site is www.tazewellchamber.com.  You may contact us by e-mail info@tazewellchamber.org or 276-988-5091.

 

As the year 2014 comes to a close it is a time to reflect on our successes and our failures and look toward 2015 and the promises that the New Year holds.  We have a number of challenges in our community.   Since 2009-2010 we have experienced a steadily declining number of businesses and thus a declining civilian workforce.  The demand for coal is down which results in many of our friends and neighbors losing their jobs.  Illegal drug use is still a problem for the Tazewell area.  This is not unique just to Tazewell or Southwest Virginia, it is happening to most small towns where factories or mills have closed and jobs are scarce.
 
Our community leaders are addressing these problems. Our county has been designated as a high drug traffic community and our county law enforcement will receive additional government funds to fight this local drug problem. A local delegation of local elected leaders went to Israel to seek additional businesses.
 
One of the most positive things that has happened to the Tazewell Chamber in 2014 was the November Membership Drive meeting.  The meeting was catered by Your Grate Escape (thanks Clint) and was well attended.  Approximately 30-35 people attended and there was a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and energy generated from the small discussion groups.  These comments were shared at our annual meeting. Some of the suggestions may not be feasible for the Chamber to implement, but we can make sure the right members of Town or County Governments are aware of their comments.
 
There are many good things happening in our area as the result of strong community involvement.  To name only a few:  Music on Main & Cruise In, Trunk or Treat, Tazewell County Business to Business Showcase, Summerfest featuring Main Street Moments, Celebration of the Arts, Burkes Garden Festival, the Varmit race, The Back of the Dragon, Community Thanksgiving , Spring Expo, and  plans for revitalizing Main Street and the Train Depot.  Yes, there are many positive things happening in the Tazewell Area.
 
Working together in 2015, we can continue to make positive changes to our area and attract new business which in turn will provide employment.
 

The Valentine's Dance is back in Tazewell this year.  Please call the Chamber at 988-5091 or contact any Board Member for tickets.

Approximately 35 people attended our membership drive meeting on November 6th at the American Legion Building.  Those who attended enjoyed hors d'oeuvres catered by Your Grate Escape.  Our small group discussions were informative and enthusiastic.  We shared the comments and suggestions at our Annual Meeting on January 16th.

 

Tazewell's Veterans Day Parade drew a huge crowd on November 9th.  There was an extra treat during the ceremony thanks to Gordon Bowers who did a fly-over in his 1955 T-28 Trojan trainer.  We appreciate all of our veterans.

 

Over 500 meals were served at the second annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on November 15th at the American Legion Building.  The dinner was sponsored by the Tazewell Police Department and the County Juvenile Court with many volunteers helping out by donating time and food.

Several attended the 28th Annual Southwest Virginia Legislative Breakfast sponsored by the Chambers of Commerce in Southwest Virginia.  The annual event was hosted by the Clintwood Chamber of Commerce and was held at Range Resources in Clintwood on November 24th. 

Pictured are Margie Douglass, Small Business Development Center; Martha Rasnake, Southwest Virginia Community College; Ginger Branton, Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce; Karen Smith, Cumberland Mountain Community Services; Chase Meade-Patton & Regina Sayers, Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens; Tom Lester, TAL Consulting, LLC, and David Asbury, SunCoke Energy-Jewell.  Attending but not pictured - Pam Meade, Tazewell Area Chamber of Commerce. 
 

Crab Orchard Museum had a record crowd of over 1100 during their Frontier Christmas on December 5th.  Lots of food was collected for a Child Shall Lead Them Food Pantry during the event.

The Town of Tazewell Tree Lighting was held on Saturday, December 6th at the American Legion Building.  Those who attended were treated to hot chocolate and cookies, Christmas music and a visit from Santa.

Tazewell Train Station had an Open House on December 6th.  The children were treated to story time while seated around the Christmas tree and a visit from Santa.   Cider and cookies were provided for the adults. 

The first of the historical plaques on Main Street was installed on the Governor Peery Law Office building on December 12th.   The original building was built as an office for George C. Peery who became Governor of Virginia in 1934 and was also the office of Archibald C. Buchanan, Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia.   The Governor Peery Law Office is located at 126 West Main Street and is currently the office for Jeff Murray, Benjamin F. Edwards & Co.
 

The Town of Tazewell Annual Christmas Parade was on Friday, December 12th.  There were lots of great float entries.  Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital was the winner of best overall float and also placed first in the best portrayal of theme category.  The winner for most religions was Pocahontas Correction Center.  Heritage Hall placed first in commercial business.  The Young Farmers from Farm Bureau won the most original category.  For great photos of the parade check out the website for the Town of Tazewell.  http://www.townoftazewell.org/christmas-parade-2014/
 

Heritage Hall hosted a Business After Hours on December 18th.  Those attending enjoyed music by Jonathan Stillwell and delicious food.