The Gulf Coast Business Support Center and Disney to Present Business Seminar Today

Businesses on the Gulf Coast and other areas will hear Tuesday from one of the leaders in resort customer service during a one-day seminar with officials from the Disney Institute.

The Baldwin County Business Support Center is sponsoring the professional development program, "Disney's Approach to Quality Service," at the Orange Beach Events Center at the Wharf.

Disney Institute is the global professional training arm of The Walt Disney Co.

The event gives local business leaders a chance to hear from experts in customer service, Rick Miller, BSC director, said.

"Their skill set is that they break down customer service in a simple way to understand, and yet for those that want to know some good metrics on how to measure and manage your effectiveness, they also present that," Miller said. "To me, they combine big business measurement with small business common sense and hospitality."

The Business Support Center was established after the 2010 BP oil spill to help local businesses survive the economic downturn following the event. The center is now working to help local businesses find ways to improve services and grow, Amy Elliott of the BSC said.

She said the Disney program fits well with the Alabama Gulf Coast's efforts to increase repeat business through hospitality and customer satisfaction.

"We'll be looking into how they do things and helping participants learn how to exceed customer expectation and provide excellent customer service," she said. "That's essential to our businesses being able to grow and sustain. Of course, it's also going to generate repeat business for us."

Good service is critical for companies trying to survive and prosper, Jeff James, vice president for the Disney Institute, said.

"This program is a rare opportunity for area business professionals to go inside the Disney organization and learn innovative, easy-to-implement best practices that can give them the competitive edge," James said in a statement.

Registration fees for the event are $125 for members of the South Baldwin or Alabama Gulf Coast Area chambers of commerce, and $150 for nonmembers. Miller said almost all of the 250 seats have been reserved, with participants coming from as far away as Chicago.

Disney officials also will meet Wednesday with about 150 Baldwin County school system employees for a seminar, Miller said.

The Business Support Center is funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of South Alabama, Miller said. Anyone wanting more information on the center or to reserve space at the seminar can call 251-968-3118, or email bsc@faulknerstate.edu.

By Guy Busby Press-Register 
Story Compliments of the Press-Register

Delivering Healthcare with Dignity

Fishermen Headed into the Bayou

The Bayou Clinic, located in picturesque Bayou La Batre, Alabama, a seafood community reliant on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, delivers high-quality healthcare at little or no cost to their clients. In July of 1987, Dr. Regina Benjamin established the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic to provide Health Care with Dignity to the impoverished residents of Bayou La Batre, Alabama.

Rebuilt Bayou Clinic

Since that time the Clinic has suffered a number of devastating calamities. Hurricane George in 1998 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 left the Clinic heavily damaged and in need of extensive repairs. Most recently, on January 1, 2006, the clinic suffered extensive fire damage, destroying any remaining documents, drugs, and equipment. Through the generous donations and support of the community, Dr. Benjamin was able to rebuild the clinic into a state-of-the-art treatment facility.
In 2010 devastation was once again visited upon the Bayou La Batre community. The Deepwater Horizon explosion, subsequent massive oil spill and the ensuing moratorium on fishing, left most of this seafood-dependant community jobless. Suddenly the Bayou Clinic was needed more than ever, not only for its ability to heal physical wounds, but also for its capability to aid in the mental well-being of the community. On September 23, 2011 The Community Foundation of South Alabama awarded a grant of $125,000 to the Bayou Clinic to expand its mental health, medical, and social services. The grant was made possible by the Fund for Gulf Communities, a program of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Recently, Foundation staff made a site visit to the Clinic to evaluate the effectiveness of the grant. It was clear from the very start that the grant has been used wisely to expand the capacity of the Clinic in the community. They have offered service to clients for physical maladies, as well as providing for the mental health and of the community of Bayou La Batre.

Excutive Director -Julie Taylor

Executive Director, Julie Taylor, reports that a new and improved web site will soon be available to the community and a Wi-Fi Hotspot signal has been made available 24/7 to community residents. An x-ray machine is in the works for the clinic as well as other needed diagnostic equipment. Staff has been added in order to increase the effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

Clinic nurse with patient

The Community Foundation is proud to partner with the Bayou Clinic in an effort to alleviate some of the physical and mental harm brought about as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. We look forward to continuing this partnership with the Clinic and the community of Bayou La Batre.