#Chamber news: Aetna Says Kentucky Is Only Area Where It's Made A Real Estate Commitment
Fears that another major employer will send jobs out of state are sparking debate over Connecticut's tax and spending policies just days before the legislature begins its annual session.
The pledge by the chief executive of Aetna Inc. that Louisville, Ky., will be the "only community" where the health insurer operates its government-related work is making some business advocates and elected officials nervous. General Electric Co. announced less than three weeks ago that it's moving its headquarters to Boston, ending a 42-year run in Fairfield.
Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini told investor analysts Monday that Aetna will make Louisville, the site of Humana that Aetna is proposing to buy for $34 billion, headquarters for Medicare, Medicaid and other government insurance plans.
Louisville is "actually the only community where we've made a real estate commitment," he said. Last week, he told the Louisville area's chamber of commerce that Aetna will be looking at "all of its real estate."
"But we've made a commitment to only one community as a location for the most important part of our business, and that's Louisville," he said.
Aetna has not commented beyond saying it "remains headquartered in Hartford." The insurer, which dates its presence in Connecticut to the 19th century, employed about 6,000 workers in the state at the end of 2015, a spokesman said. Read more: Hartford Courant
Aetna has not commented beyond saying it "remains headquartered in Hartford." The insurer, which dates its presence in Connecticut to the 19th century, employed about 6,000 workers in the state at the end of 2015, a spokesman said. Read more: Hartford Courant
Arlington Heights business leaders celebrate chamber awards
More than 250 community and business leaders took a trip back to the roaring 1920s for the 69th annual Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce Installation and Awards celebration on Friday night.
The event, hosted at Arlington Park for the first time, was complete with women in flapper dresses, a live band and casino and slot machines -- with fake money -- as part of the fun.
Chamber Executive Director Jon Ridler even joked with state Rep. David Harris about the irony of the play gambling at the track while a battle to bring real slots there is a source of ongoing contention between the racecourse's owners and politicians in Springfield.
"It took the chamber of commerce to get slot machines at the racetrack, but it's up to you to keep them here," Ridler said.
Village President Tom Hayes shared some 1920s facts with the crowd, including that in that decade the population of Arlington Heights jumped from 2,500 to 5,000. It was also the decade that Arlington High School and Arlington Park opened.
Getting back to more recent history, Ridler said 2015 was a good year for the chamber as he talked about the organization's new brand: "Connect, engage, succeed."
Outgoing chamber board President Amy Philpott thanked the chamber and community for their support during her year as leader.
New Chairman Colin Gilbert said he was looking forward to more communication, collaboration and success in 2016. Read more: Daily Herald
Chamber interest: Elkhart County getting business court
Indiana is creating six new courts that will specialize in resolving the complex disputes that often arise involving some of the state’s businesses.
Elkhart County Superior Court 2 Judge Stephen Bowers will preside in a local commercial court pilot project along with judges in Allen, Floyd, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties. The pilot project has been authorized by the Indiana Supreme Court.
Those judges will begin hearing cases June 1 in which the parties have agreed to have disputes resolved through the specialized docket.
“The pilot project has the potential to be helpful in the judicial system of Indiana to help all court users by improving court efficiency,” Bowers said. “It will allow business and commercial disputes to be resolved more efficiently. It will enhance the accuracy, consistency and predictability of decisions in business and commercial cases. This will help businesses by providing a fairer and faster result of business and commercial law disputes and enhance economic development in Indiana.”
Bowers said the cases will be handled in Superior Court 2 along with other cases on his calendar at the beginning of the program because there just isn’t enough cases or funds to keep one judge in each county just for business disputes.
Bowers said the cases will be handled in Superior Court 2 along with other cases on his calendar at the beginning of the program because there just isn’t enough cases or funds to keep one judge in each county just for business disputes.
Law clerks will need to be hired for the pilot program.
“I think in the short run, the law clerks will be contracted to work with specific commercial courts,” Bowers said. “I think it will be dealt with grants at the beginning.”
Greater Elkhart Chamber President/CEO Kyle Hannon said a fair, but streamlined court process for businesses will be very important for the business community.
“The easier it is for them to settle legal proceedings so they can get back to doing business helps the economy,” Hannon said. “Once we prove this process works, and it is shown that Elkhart County continues to be an excellent place to operate a business, that will eventually be another business-attraction tool.” Read more: Goshen News
Congratulations to Leadership Lafayette class
The EAGLE would like to extend our congratulations to the 2016 Leadership Lafayette class, a group of 25 Oxonians who are giving up at least one day a month this year and dedicating time to cultivating their leadership skills and learning more about what makes our community unique.
The group also will discover ways to improve our community, and work on projects that aim to do just that.
We commend the Oxford and Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce for providing this program to our residents. Doing so ensures continuous community leadership, and will instill a lifelong love of Oxford in all participants.
Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory
The Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Business Directory is available at the Lake Zurich Area Chamber today! Thanks to Dale Perrin and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
Town SquarePublications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community guide or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Charlottesville Regional Chamber to present 2016 Hovey S. Dabney Award for Corporate Citizenship to the UVA Health System
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced that it will present its 2016 Hovey S. Dabney Award for Corporate Citizenship to the University of Virginia Health System, before a gathering of business and community leaders attending the Annual Chamber Membership Meeting & Business Luncheon held at the Holiday Inn – Emmet Street on Wednesday, February 17th.
“Our Chamber is pleased to present the Hovey S Dabney Award to the University of Virginia Health System, which saves thousands of lives each year and defines what a good citizen enterprise is,” said Chad Zakaib, Vice President of Legacy Hospice, Immediate Past Chairman (2015) of the Chamber Board, and Chairman of the Hovey S. Dabney Award for Corporate Citizenship Selection Committee.
"The University of Virginia, with its 11,000 employees, is one of the leading medical centers in the country and a worldwide leader in medical research -- and it's all right here in our home town,” added Chamber President Timothy Hulbert. "UVA Health saves lives; I know. Thank you and congratulations."
The Annual Chamber Membership Meeting, underwritten by Virginia National Bank and R.E. Lee Companies, is regularly attended by more than 200 business & civic leaders. The meeting and luncheon at the Holiday Inn – Emmet Street, will begin at 11:30AM. Prior to the award presentation, Adrian Felts, Chief Operations Officer of Centridian, who serves as the 2016 Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors, will lead a presentation of the 2016 Annual Chamber Report to the Chamber membership and area business and civic leadership. Mr. Bernie Niemeier, Publisher of Virginia Business magazine, will address the Chamber members on the business climate in our Commonwealth and the challenges and opportunities ahead. Read more: Charlottesville Tomorrow
Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce hosting Women in Business luncheon
The Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the LaFontaine Automotive Group, will soon be reintroducing a Women in Business conference in the community.
The event, set to be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25 at Fountains Golf & Banquet, will feature a motivational speaker, self defense seminar, on-site boutique shopping and business networking, organizers say.
This year’s keynote presenter is radio host and author Charmaine Hammond, who will deliver a presentation called “GPS Your Business.”
Hammond has a master’s degree in conflict analysis and management and has owned her own business, Hammond International Inc., for 18 years.
Clarkston Chamber staff member Marie Clifford said the event will encourage women to help others achieve their dreams. “The leaders in the room are proof that anything is possible as long as you’re willing to work. It’s inspiring.”
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jennifer Miles will also be teaching a 30-minute self defense course during the conference. Miles was the first female operator on the Oakland County SWAT team and has been teaching self defense classes for more than seven years. Read more: Oakland Press
MMAC Report: Number of positive economic indicators for area ticks upward
The number of improved economic indicators for the metro Milwaukee area showed a small uptick with 14 positive indicators, up from 13 positive indicators in November, according to the monthly economic trends report from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
“The aggregate total of positive indicators has remained fairly stable in 2015’s second half but across industries job growth has become less broad-based,” said Bret Mayborne, the MMAC’s economic research director. “Nonetheless overall strength in the local economy continues to show through, particularly in unemployment and housing and real estate indicators.”
Highlights of the MMAC report:
- Nonfarm employment numbered 856,600 in December, a 0.8 percent increase from one year ago.
- The number of unemployed fell 11.8 percent from year-ago levels to 36,500 while new unemployment compensation claims numbered 5,679, a 15.8 percent decrease from one year ago.
- Metro Milwaukee’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate fell 0.5 percentage points from year-ago levels, to 4.5 percent in December.
- The length of the workweek for manufacturing production workers averaged 43.5 hours in December, up 3.1 percent over year-ago levels.
- A small gain was recorded in average weekly earnings, up 0.3 percent (to $847) while average hourly earnings fell 2.7 percent (to $19.47).
- Existing home sales in the metro Milwaukee area registered a 14.5 percent increase in December over year-ago levels.
- Air passenger usage of Mitchell International Airport rose 0.4 percent in December, to 502,372. Read more: Biz Times
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey
RULE
#128 Avoid the term “prospective
member”
Town Square Publications Chambers of Commerce Membership & Community Profiles
Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.
Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. More information: Town Square Publications
Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, To request your publication proposal, Click here
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.