• Chamber of Commerce breakfast  features Peter Suter
• Chamber-BCE workshop at 8:45 a.m. features Dr. Samuel Heiks
• Both events free and open to the public

CHAMBER BREAKFAST
Peter Suter, co-founder of Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn Co., Bluffton, is the featured speaker of the Friday, Oct. 12, Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast. Breakfast serving starts at 7 a.m. The program begins at 7:30 a.m.

The breakfast takes place on the third floor of the town hall. Jeanne’s Kitchen will provide the breakfast.

This past summer Shirley’s initiated a program to franchise the business. Suter will provide an overview of what it means to franchise, and will talk about the steps the company took to do it.

As part of the franchise move, Shirley’s Main Street retail shop is now remodeled to more accurately reflect its brand and products.

Peter and Kim Suter launched Shirley’s in August of 2009. In addition to Shirley’s the couple owns Shannon Theatre.

CHAMBER WORKSHOP
Following the breakfast, at 8:45 a.m., the chamber and Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs will host a workshop led by Dr. Samuel Heiks, M.D., on direct primary care.

Direct primary care is a new approach to healthcare that offers solutions to skyrocketing rise of healthcare costs in this country. 

According to Dr. Heiks: “Three primary ideas drive the direct primary care model.  First, healthcare costs must be transparent so that consumers understand what they are paying for.  Second, a thriving healthcare system depends upon a robust primary care infrastructure.  And third, health insurance is best used for catastrophic illness, rather than for basic primary care needs.

“Direct primary care, by contracting directly with the healthcare consumer, creates a powerful ripple effect that echoes throughout the entire healthcare system.  Ultimately, it is the end result of this effect that may save health care in this country: restoration of the doctor-patient relationship.” 

Dr. Heiks will explain direct primary care and the economic power behind the doctor-patient relationship.

Both the breakfast and workshop following the breakfast are free and open to the public. Persons interested in attending either should rsvp to [email protected].