Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Chamber Connection on Talk Radio ten eighty,
a program designed for small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and
community members who are eager to learn more about the
intricacies of running a successful business, hosted each week by
the dedicated staff of the Chamber of Saint Matthews. Now
here's your host for this week, Amanda Harper, Events and
(00:24):
Program Coordinator.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hello, everybody, welcome to the Chamber Connection on Talk Radio
ten eighty. Today we have a very awesome person in
the house, in the house, studio, whatever we want to
call it. That would be our newest staff member to
the Chamber of Saint Matthew's Andy Boyd Hidy. I'm so
(00:49):
happy to be here, so happy to have you here.
So we are going to put her through the little
ring or make her tell us a little bit about
ourself and what she sees with the Chamber, just so
that way you guys can get used to her as well.
So we're going to go right into it with the
A team. Oh yeah, the A team. I want to
(01:10):
know a little bit about yourself. How long have you
been in Louisville. I know that you're a transplant, so
let's go with that.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
So I moved to Louisville about four.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
And a half years ago.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Now I spent most of my life, I would guess
in Georgia, So Atlanta, Georgia Northeast area.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
So came from Georgia.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Professionally, I have an HR degree from Georgia State University
and most of my professional background has been in leading
customer service teams for manufacturing customers. So working on processes,
efficiency and customer first mentality. But the fun side, the
(01:54):
softer side of the and d I'm excited. Yes, I
have a family that I love, two children and a dog,
and of course my husband, dog, kids, husband.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
And I play tennis.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
That's really how I got to meet my community here
in Louisville. That started. And then I also play roller derby,
so I guess that's the fun part.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
I love the roller derby thing. We've definitely had off
air conversations and it's so cool. I can't wait to
go see a game or a match or about about
See I'm not well educated on this.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
No, you'll get really go down. I'll help you.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So what led you to the chamber? How did you
hear about the job and all that good stuff?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Okay, well, I was looking for a job with flexibility
that would really enhance my strengths, which is talking to
people and being awesome.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
That is.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
I saw the post on the chamber and I applied
for it. I thought it was a little creative. You
asked to answer some questions. I tried to answer the
questions and I got called in for the interview, and
ever since the interview, I came home I told my husband,
I'm like, this is this job is for me, like
(03:19):
it these are my people. And they asked me what
kind of karaoke songs I like? And just so everyone knows,
I have a karaoke playlist. There's not just one song. Yeah,
there's a playlist.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
As a true karaoke fan would be, yeah, you don't
have just one song.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
No, there's a list you.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Go through and it depends on the vibe. You gotta
read the room exactly exactly.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
And then.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Asking me if I like costumes, that I have a
whole costume room in my basement, right again, right, It
just feed for those.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Of you that don't really know a lot about the
Chamber of Saint Matthew's, we love costumes and we tend
to dress up in costumes as much as we can.
So that's always something that we like to ask people
on the front end. Make sure you're comfortable with it,
right because if you're not that you're that might not
be for you, Bud. So let's get into it. What
is your actual role here? What do you what is
(04:13):
your title and what do you do?
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
So my title is Membership Coordinator and my goal is
to bring more businesses and companies and people in general
to the chamber, let them know about the chamber, get
them to sign up for memberships. And I really think
the only reason companies haven't signed up for a membership
is they don't know about it, because once you find
out about it, there's no reason not to join the chamber.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Such a great community, I agree, I agree, which kind
of gives leads me into my next comment or question Commission.
I don't know what that was meant, trying to mess
a couple of words together all of what's So, what's
been your first impression of the Chamber of Saint Matthew's community.
And when I say the community, I don't mean the
community of Saint Matthew's, I mean chamber community.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
So when I first applied for the Chamber. I wasn't
really sure what it was. Honestly, I didn't know what
the purpose of it was. I did a little bit
of research before my interview, and once I got the job,
I did a lot more research and I continue to
ask questions, and I mean what I would ask Josh
Virginia yourself, I'm like, why should you join? Like what's
(05:25):
been How could I sell this to someone if I
don't believe it myself? Like?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Why should I be a member?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
And it truly is about one communication, community, networking and support.
And there's not one person on this earth that couldn't
use extra support, absolutely, and that's what the Chamber provides.
Like once you're a member, we're there for you for
whatever you need. We either have resources, contacts, and the
(05:53):
networking is we know who descend you to absolutely and
when you're apart, you become of those people. The pool
of people we can pull from, right, whether it's events
or it's something for your small business that you need,
it's we're just here to support you.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
And that's what I love about it. It's truly there's
no ulterior motives.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
It's really we want you to join so we could
help you grow right from there, help the community grow right.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Absolutely, I would definitely agree with that. And I've been
here as of this weekend a year. Congratulations, thank you,
So I've definitely I'm definitely on the same page as you.
It's just like a family. It feels very homey, and
I just love all of our members and the connections
that we make every day. And you know when people
come in and they're like, oh, I've been looking for
(06:44):
a venue and da dah da da dad, and then
you're like, Okay, how can I help them? And then
you meet somebody and they're like I have a venue and.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
You're like, oh my god, let me connect you guys.
This is so great, you know, you just like e
spas out like a little squirrel. It's like so happy
to help them make connections. And I'm glad that you
feel that already. Yeah, it's definitely a plus about the chamber.
That's the biggest selling point to me is the people
you meet and the connections and how you could help
these people.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I love the helping people is definitely a big thing
for me. So and I can tell already that that's
it for you too. So well, let's get it on
to a fun one. Have you had any like surprises
or anything that kind of just like stands out, like
one of them stand out moments since you've been at
(07:31):
the Chamber yet, I mean other than the fire hose
to the face that was your first week. That's how
we like to introduce people to the Chamber. You know,
I got it, you get it. You know, like it's
just gonna have to be a thing now now.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
I think for me the first day, just walking in
and I know I told you in the interview that
I do roller derby, but there was a sign on
my desk a girl could do anything with the right
pair of shoes, and it was a pair of skates.
And in the the handwritten letter welcoming me to the
Chamber was just.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
To me.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
I just knew I made the right choice and it
was around the right people. But on top of that,
just you know, joining the expo the day after the
business Expo and meeting everyone and it's just I love
talking to people and meeting people anyway, right, So it.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Was just so much fun.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
It was so much fun just to be around people
and learn more about the Chamber and what the Chamber
does for them.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Right, good, good, I love that. So what are some
of the ways that you plan on seeing maybe like
engaging the community or you know, like, do you have
anything yet? I know that this is like super soon,
you know, but have you thought of that any at all?
Speaker 3 (08:48):
Well?
Speaker 4 (08:49):
I know right now I've worked through.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
It starts with our systems and like all of the
business cards that we have, reaching out to the contacts
we already have and letting them know.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
We're working on a mailer that we're going to send out.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
But I really think it's gonna be boots on the ground,
walking around, always having my card on me, no matter
what my hours are.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
But if I'm at a place like.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Let's talk about the chamber, because it's a lot of it,
it's easy to ignore email, It's easy to ignore a call,
It's hard to ignore someone that's in your face.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Right, You're got to be a special type of person
to be like meh.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Yeah, But even that, it's I want to help you.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
I'm here to help you, and trying to get to
talk to the right person to let them know like
I'm here for you. I want to help your business.
Here are some ways to do it. And although I'm
going to try the digital way, as well. I think
the best thing is going to be walking around and
talking to them seeing their face for sure.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
For sure, it's always I always do the whole meetings
and face to face. I don't like the zoom stuff.
I feel like it's more authentic that way.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
So what's been your favorite event so far? Real quick
before we go to break.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Well, I mean, we just finished the business luncheon yesterday
at the Kentucky Science Center.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
That was amazing.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
I really love every event I've done, but I'll obviously
the last one that we did, which was for me,
the business luncheon that I was at.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
It was a beautiful venue.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
We got to hear about what the Science Center is doing,
and plus everyone that.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
We came got to talk to and network with.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Right got to meet the mayor, which was great from
the Saint Matthew's.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Yeah, it was a great event.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Well, good good. As you settle into the chamber, do
you have any goals that you set for yourself.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
To continue to have fun and spread the words around
the chamber. I mean, I want to get more people
to find out how the chamberlader could be helpful for them.
I don't want to focus on joining but I mean, honestly,
that's the innards. So it's really just getting out there
and talking to businesses.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Right.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I would like people to know about the Chamber of
Saint Matthew's and how great it is and what it
could do for their business. And I'm guessing there's a
lot of people that were like me and what is
the chamber mean?
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Right?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Yeah, I was definitely like that too. I was like,
I don't know what this is.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I want to get to those people and let them
know we're here to help you and help.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
This is what we do. Yes, most of the time,
whenever you sell people that you work for a chamber,
they're like what is that?
Speaker 3 (11:30):
You know?
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Like, nobody understands what we do, but it's important. So
all right, Well, I guess that we will be right
back with miss Andy Boyd. We'll come back after these
commercial breaks.
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Speaker 1 (12:22):
Thanks for listening to real News Real Talk Talk Radio
ten eighty.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Welcome back everybody to the Chamber Connection on Talk Radio
ten eighty. I have with me today Andy Boyd, who
is our new staff member at the Chamber of Saint Matthews.
Woo whooo.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Are you feeling so connected to you right now?
Speaker 3 (12:51):
No?
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Just so connected, like literally through wires probably. Oh so,
just in case you guys missed the first half of it,
we had Andy just joined us. How long have we
been with us now?
Speaker 8 (13:04):
Andy?
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Is this third week?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
This is three year? Three?
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Yeah? Yeah, the first week was short. So do you
count that two and a half. Yeah, let's do that.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Let's see two and a half, So two and a
half weeks and we have definitely put her through the wringer.
She's definitely seen a lot of events that we've put on.
I mean, with over three hundred events a year, there's
always something going on, and she's definitely came in and
crushed it. She's been fully engaged and like walking around
(13:35):
at our business expo introducing herself to everybody.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
I love it well, I.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
Love people right, and so that that.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Helps me exactly. You can always tell like another fellow
extrovert you know.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Wants to go towards the line of people, not run
away from right exactly.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
But Andy is our membership coordinator. She focuses on sales
and all of that good stuff. So if anybody out
there listening is interested in joining the Chamber.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Yeah, please come to me.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
I'd love to talk to you about it, tell you
how it will benefit you, how we could help you
grow your business. And honestly, with our nearly eighteen hundred members,
we're constantly looking for other businesses to support as well.
So being a member just it helps us support you,
help me, help you, help.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Me help you.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
That's what the Chamber is all about.
Speaker 8 (14:33):
Is going to turn into therapy self help with the
Chamber with the A team, Obay Died, Andy against the
world all right, more of a serious topic.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
So well, I guess this might may not be serious
depending on how you are.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
If you had to.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Describe the chamber in three words, what would it be?
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Community involvement.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
She's thinking of all of the ones that are like.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Crazy people, happy, fun, just like generic like yes, No,
it's really community involvement, networking communication. I mean, all my
answers to most questions revolve around how you communicate with people,
and the chamber helps align your communication needs with what
(15:37):
you're looking for.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Right, right, So what have you done in the past
that's kind of similar to what you're doing now? I
know that you've done sales in the past. Correct, Okay, So, like,
have you ever been involved in a chamber yourself as
at another company or because I know you just said
that you didn't really know what it was, so I
guess not.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
No, I mean in the past, I customer.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Service teams as large as forty people to as small
as four. Some customer services could range from call centers
to account management, mostly in manufacturing companies. So it really
worked on process improvements like six Sigma Kaisan working on
processing and really just leading a bunch of people. You
(16:24):
get to learn the different personalities and the different approaches.
There's not one approach to everything. Everyone takes information in
differently and relays it. And it's the same with interacting
with people, like some people don't mind the friendly high
and walking right up to you, and other people are like, god, no,
don't talk to me, don't talk to me, walk away.
(16:44):
So it's just being able to read the person, yes,
and adapt your approach to what suits them.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Yeah, absolutely, because you don't want to come up to
somebody with like more of a shy personality, with somebody
like me and you like love me, josh Is We're
gonna let us do another radio together.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
It be great.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
This is the last deal here for me. No, she's wonderful.
We're so glad that she's a part of our teap
So earlier we were talking about in your interview and
asked you a couple of questions and what we kind
of got a little fun with our questions because, as
everybody knows, if you're a part of the chamber, we're
just kind of like goofy, we're a little eclectic, funny,
(17:39):
little bit well just a little so, uh, or we
like to think that we are. Maybe we're really not
just kidding, I'm kidding, but uh, what was your answer
when we asked you what was your favorite karaoke song.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
My answer was, I have a whole playlist what to pick,
But I mean my first go to is Alana Miles
Black Velvet Love. I mean that that is it has
a deep enough level because I'm not a soprano by
any means there, So that's that's always my go to
nice song if I have to put it in.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
So were you in chore or you said you're not
a soprano? So I'm just kind of interested.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
I actually I tried out for a choir in fifth
grade and I did not make the cut. Surprisingly, I know, yeah,
I can't believe it's still obviously, but that's what I
love about karaoke because people still listen to me even
though I do not make choir. And the more that
(18:37):
you drink, I probably sound better. There I'm wondering why
I'm not a pop star, honestly, I.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Mean honestly, I always say that somebody should just follow
us around. Maybe that's the next thing on the books
for the Chamber Connection. We got our Chamber Connection magazine,
we got our Chamber Connection Radio show. Now we're going
to do your reality TV show, How the Chamber Could
Help You be a pop Star. All starts with karaoke
and costumes. The Chamber is probably not going to help
(19:07):
you be a pop star. We're going to help you
be a profitable business owner.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
So earlier again, we were talking about like the benefits
of becoming a member so far, what do you think
that those aren't?
Speaker 3 (19:23):
What do you feel that those would be well for me?
It's the networking community. It's the community that you already have.
So if I'm a starting new as a small business
and I'm getting frustrated with taxes, or I'm getting frustrated
with my website or my social media presence and I'm
I don't know where to go with it, call the
(19:46):
Chamber because we could give you connections to those people.
We could let you know people that have already been
through it, what they've been through.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
We could give you mentors. There's groups.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
That they that we have created that people could get
together and talk about these right, which is it's really
great because most of the members already on the Chamber
have been through something like it before and they could
be like, this is what I would suggest, and you
get another perspective as well.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
So it's right, like I've talked to so and so
and they helped me do this or that. I'm like,
it's just it's all about connections. Everything is all about
connections and who you know and how they can help
you out and like vice versa. Like you know, you
could help me learn how to row a derby exactly,
and I could help you too. Who knows what I do?
I don't really know what I do.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
I do everything, so you can help me with everything
else in life everything, yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
But truthfully, I just I love the chamber and I
love what we do, and I can tell that you're
loving it as well so far. And I mean, like,
I know we're on the radio show No Pressure, you know, yeah,
you know, like I'm over here and I'm.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Like, she's better.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
No, But I mean the thing is what I and
I'm constantly learning more about it. But it's not just
for small businesses or entrepreneurs, right. If you're a nonprofit,
oh yeah, it's another great resource. Love nonprofits, so it
really expands. If you're a restaurant owner, another great resource.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
If you have.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
Any kind of business, it's really we're here to support
you and we could guide you in the right direction
that if you're having troubles with I mean They also
have an insurance connection, so if you're not able to
find insurance, that's always helpful.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
And that service is the whole state, yes, you know,
like the whole state. We have members and over like
three hundred zip codes. So it's like, it's wild because
why are people south? Insurance is so expensive right now
and this is like the best, you know, I've heard
so many people, just people from way out and who
(22:01):
knows where Kentucky. They're like here at the Saint Matthew's
Chamber so they can have that insurance and it's just great.
It's just another wonderful benefit that we offer. And we're
gonna keep them coming because we got some great stuff
coming up too.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
And that's I think the biggest thing for me is
you don't have to be in Saint Matthew's.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
Right, there's chambers all over the state as well.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
But I'm partial, granted because I work here, but our
chamber holds so many events and you could be anywhere.
You could be in Lexington, you could be in Bowling Green, like,
you could still be a part of our community as
you could be in downtown Louisville.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Like, we do not discriminate our members.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
And we always have something.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Yes, you know, then there's always something to do.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Virtual. We have virtual groups, we have morning, noon, and night.
Wherever you like to network, we got it. So if
you're looking to make some valuable connections, I think that
the chambers for you, the Chamber of Saint Matthew's, even
though it's say Matthew's, we don't have You don't have
to be in Saint Matthew. Just remember that, folks. But
(23:05):
I really do enjoy your presence.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
I know this is a weird way to say.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
It, but I enjoyed my presence.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
She actually just gave me a present earlier today. That's
one of the present that I was sorry about.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Never mind, I'm kidding it.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
So but I really appreciate you coming in and you've
been doing great, working hard and already like helping us
so much. So I really do appreciate it, and I
hope that you really do like it as much.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Chamber of Saint Matthew's is great. I love being a
part of it. So I'm I'm happy for the opportunity
and the people I get to meet. Yeah, especially you, Amanda.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
You are you are too. We're all pretty wonderful. So
good deal. Well, everybody, That is it for the Chamber
connection today, So make sure that you are tuning in
next time, next week, same bat time, same bat place,
or whatever that's saying. Is eleven am on Saturdays on
(24:09):
Talk Radio ten eighty Bye.