The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Detroit Regional Chamber, on March 10 hosted a cybersecurity conference aimed at helping small and mid-size business owners develop, evaluate, and strengthen cybersecurity programs; Charlottesville Regional Chamber interest: New measures helping PVCC train students; Greater Springfield Chamber Business Connections set for April 28 at PCCC; Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber Welcomes New Chamber Champions; Jeffersontown Chamber interest: Main Event Entertainment Brings Unique 'Eat.Bowl.Play' Experience To Louisville, Kentucky; Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor Delivers ‘State Of The City’ Address To Hobart Chamber Of Commerce; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey; Sheboygan County Chamber pushes for marine sanctuary funding; Town Square Publications Custom Chamber of Commerce Maps and Magazines;

Happy Friday, Chamber world! It's going to be a great day!

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Detroit Regional Chamber, on March 10 hosted a cybersecurity conference aimed at helping small and mid-size business owners develop, evaluate, and strengthen cybersecurity programs.

“A few years ago, cyberattacks against the government and corporations were on the margins of news stories, but now a day doesn't go by that we don't hear about a data  breach or cyber-intrusion,” said Ann Beauchesne, senior vice president for National Security and Emergency Preparedness at the U.S. Chamber. “Through this conference and our cybersecurity awareness campaign, the Chamber is urging businesses of all sizes to adopt fundamental Internet security practices to reduce network weaknesses and make the price of successful hacking steep.”

The event brought together top experts from government, law enforcement, and the private sector to discuss how to navigate the cybersecurity framework released by the White House, give business owners tools and tips for strengthening their cybersecurity programs, and explore ways to partner with law enforcement before cyber incidents occur. It also featured a panel looking at the auto industry’s perspective on cybersecurity, as with computing systems enabling many new automotive technologies, cybersecurity has become a top priority for the industry, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“With the emergence of connected and driverless vehicle technology, no place in the country has the potential to be affected by cybersecurity as much as Michigan,” said Tammy Carnrike, chief operating officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber. “Our response is going to be critical to how business, and ultimately, our country deals with technology threats. Innovations in cybersecurity will protect Michigan’s economy while offering opportunity to grow another dynamic industry in our region.” Read more: Finchannel.com

Charlottesville Regional Chamber interest: New measures helping PVCC train students

Tim Hulbert,
Charlottesville Regional Chamber 

Thursday on the steps of the General Assembly building, Governor Terry McAuliffe signed into law a new measure that include $20 million for workforce development in the Commonwealth.

Both Piedmont Virginia Community College and the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce agree the new measures are good news.

"This is huge, we've never had funding available like this before," said PVCC Dean of Workforce Services Valerie Palamountain.

"This is about opportunity," added Chamber President Tim Hulbert. "This is about having a workforce that is ready to seize that opportunity."

The general reaction to the new measures are positive from those directly impacted.

PVCC says the state funds will play a big role in its workforce development and certification programs.

"They're expensive programs to setup and operate," said Palamountain. Read more: NewsPlex.com

Greater Springfield Chamber Business Connections set for April 28 at PCCC

Chris Hembrough,
Greater Springfield Chamber 

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s Business Connections trade show will be held on Thursday, April 28 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield. The show floor opens at 1 p.m. to the public. The show is designed to provide businesses with opportunities to display and promote their products and services, and let customers personally experience what they have to offer.

The Prairie Capital Convention Center will be buzzing with booths representing health care, education, employment, business mentoring, recreation, salons, restaurants and many more. The variety of participating businesses is one of many great reasons to be a part of this event. The Chamber’s business expo provides a unique opportunity to interact with customers face-to-face, make strategic connections and build business relationships.

As presenting sponsor, SCORE will hold a number of business workshops throughout the day. The topics will include, but are not limited to, marketing, Small Business Administration resources, franchise opportunities, Affordable Care Act, bank lending and Google’s Put Your Business on the Map. SCORE has been mentoring new and existing businesses for over 40 years, utilizing successful and experienced business professionals and entrepreneurs.

The Chamber’s largest Speed Networking event of the year will take place with nearly 100 participants sharing information and initiating valuable business relationships. A Business After Hours event will conclude the trade show with food and beverages right on the show room floor. Business After Hours will also include a Canvas & Cocktails event hosted by the Springfield Art Association. Read more: Springfield Journal Register

Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Rapid City Chamber today! Thanks to Linda Rabe, Kristina Simmons 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 profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber Welcomes New Chamber Champions
The Chamber Champions team serves as a select group of individuals who act as the volunteer public relations arm of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc. focusing on membership outreach and retention. The role of the Chamber Champion is to support the Chamber, its members and events; and allows for many opportunities for Chamber Champions to enhance their own business relations while meeting fellow Chamber members.

A Chamber Champion must be a responsible business person committed to business development and exhibiting the highest degree of professionalism, embracing a positive attitude that is supportive and respectful to all, and who wants to be an active participant of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Please welcome our newest Chamber Champions: Susan Jones and Leslie Kelley.

 

Tori Bishop

WXXV 25

Tori is a native of Pensacola, Florida, & has been a
resident on the MS Gulf Coast since 1999.  She currently works at WXXV25 as an Advertising Account Manager.  Her professional interests focus on developing business marketing strategies & unique promotions. Her current projects include Babypalooza Maternity Expo & most recently Teacher of the Month which honors exemplary educators on the Coast. In addition, she serves as board member on the Boys and Girls Club Gulfport Unit Board, is a graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast 2014-15, and is a happily married mother of four!  

        

Maureen Powell

Camellia Hospice

Maureen is the Business Development Representative for Camellia Hospice in the Gulfport area.  She has four years of medical marketing experience between the Mississippi Gulf Coast and southern California. Working at Camellia Hospice gives Maureen contentment in being able to help patients and their families find comfort, care and compassion in the final journey of life. 

More information: Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber

Jeffersontown Chamber interest: Main Event Entertainment Brings Unique 'Eat.Bowl.Play' Experience To Louisville, Kentucky

Dallas-based Main Event Entertainment, the fastest-growing bowling-anchored entertainment company in America, brings on the fun and food with the opening of its first Kentucky center in Louisville on March 22. Located at 12500 Sycamore Station Place, the center is the company's 25th location nationwide.

The nearly 50,000-square-foot complex provides an eating and entertainment destination for people of all ages, with state-of-the-art bowling on 22 ice-white lanes accented with black lighting, a multi-level laser tag arena, a challenging gravity ropes course and more than 100 interactive and virtual games. TVs are placed throughout the center so visitors can catch sports, the latest local happenings and music videos and events. Dining options include an extensive chef-inspired menu featuring burgers, steaks, specialty pizzas and much more, and a full bar serves innovative cocktails, wines and craft and local beers.

To celebrate the company's 25th grand opening, Main Event will give away 25 prizes via social media March 14-18. Fans can enter for a chance to win by following @MyMainEvent on Twitter and @mainevententertainment on Instagram and retweeting and regramming the company's posts with #Louisville25, or by liking Main Event's posts on Facebook and tagging friends in the comments. Prizes include $25 FUNcards and tickets to Main Event's Louisville VIP Party, featuring free games, activities and food, on March 20. 

"The Louisville opening represents a milestone for Main Event, because our expansion into Kentucky is an integral part of our growth plan," said Main Event CEO Charlie Keegan. "As the pioneer in bowling-anchored entertainment, Main Event will showcase our one-of-a-kind 'Eat.Bowl.Play.' experience at its finest in Louisville, and we invite the local community to come see all that we have to offer."

Main Event is also an ideal venue for special events such as birthday parties, social gatherings and corporate meetings, with private rooms with full-service catering, free Wi-Fi and the latest audio/visual technology.

In addition to adding a new entertainment and dining destination to the Louisville area, the new center will provide more than 150 full-time and hourly jobs. 

"With 33,000 workers in Bluegrass Commerce Park, we know Main Event will be a great entertainment option for all those who live and work in the area," said Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce President John Cosby. "The Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce is proud to support the economic development of Eastern Louisville, and the entire community looks forward to the new jobs that Main Event will provide." Read more: PR Newswire

Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor Delivers ‘State Of The City’ Address To Hobart Chamber Of Commerce

On Wednesday, Hobart Mayor Brian K. Snedecor delivered his annual State of the City address at the Hobart Chamber of Commerce’s Monthly Luncheon at the Hobart Community Center on beautiful Lake George.

“Seeing all the people here today that are in some way infused in the city is remarkable,” said Mayor Snedecor. “People that serve on boards, people that serve on non-profit organizations within the city in some fashion. It’s an amazing mix of people.”

“Many of you have probably seen some of the things going on in the city and all the excitement in the city,” Snedecor said. “Whenever I do projects like this I try to make it a team approach. When we work with the business community like we have here today we feel like it’s a little bit of a different approach. We need to look at what things that, as business people who are invested in our community, are important to you.”

“From 2015 now going into 2016 I almost feel like I’ve got that giddy feeling you got when you were a kid about what’s happening in the city of Hobart,” Snedecor continued. “So much smart growth. That’s been one of the keynotes of what we’ve tried to say. If we’re going to grow as a community we need to grow in a very sound way. Don’t rush. We’ve seen some communities around the region who had that growing spurt and they grew so quickly and they didn’t have provisions in place to handle the growth. Then things got out of sync and that’s one thing that Hobart wants to be careful about. Grow with smart, manageable, and sustainable both residential and commercial growth.”

Snedecor described 2015 as a banner year for the city of Hobart. The city invested $41 million into new construction within the city and attracted 44 new businesses who moved to Hobart last year. Speaking to the business oriented Hobart Chamber, Snedecor and Hobart Clerk Treasurer, Deb Longer, highlighted the city government's financial climate and health. Read more: Valpo Life

Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

RULE #136    Sell sponsorships in 3 or 5 year agreements.

Good morning Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!



Sheboygan County Chamber pushes for marine sanctuary funding

Betsy Alles,
Sheboygan County Chamber

Sheboygan business leaders are asking community members to contact Congressional leaders and express support for continued funding for the National Marine Sanctuary System.

The push comes as a proposal is under review by federal officials to establish the Lake Michigan National Marine Sanctuary, located off the coasts of Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Port Washington.

An email sent out March 11 from the Sheboygan County Chamber highlighted the preservation of shipwrecks and the economic development implications throughout the region should the sanctuary be created here.

“We will see new businesses, greater ability to recruit talent to our area, increased tourism and amazing educational opportunities for our children and grandchildren, to name a few,” said Betsy Alles, chamber executive director, in the email.

One of the unknowns regarding the sanctuary involves where a possible visitors center may be located, given the large area of shoreline that would have a role to play in the sanctuary. The city of Sheboygan has already made the push part of its new "Fresh Coast" marketing campaign, where they expect to put an emphasis on educational opportunities along the lakefront in the future.

Anyone interested can sign a letter advocating for sanctuary funding athttp://nmsfocean.org/support-funding-for-sanctuaries. Read more: Sheboygan Press

Town Square Publications Custom Chamber of Commerce Maps and Magazines 

 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