Gov. Rick Snyder speaks to Saginaw County Chamber crowd in 'Michigan's Little Bavaria'; Kansas City Chamber's new Big 5 goal targets KC's 'No. 1 economic tool'; Northfield Minnesota Chamber names Bornhauser as executive director; Springfield Chamber Award: Nominate someone special for 2014 Humanitarian Award; Chamber news: 50 Best Places to Live in the U. S. - #3. Carmel, Indiana; Chamber news: North Dakota extends lowest state unemployment rate to 69 months; Chamber Tweet of the Day: Greater OKC Chamber; Chamber Event: U of O Mutt Strutt approaches; 10 Questions to Ask on Your First Phone Call With Franchise Headquarters; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude);

Gov. Rick Snyder speaks to Saginaw County Chamber crowd in 'Michigan's Little Bavaria'

Gov. Rick Snyder sought to illustrate how far the state has come when he spoke to a crowd of about 200 Saginaw County businessmen and women at Frankenmuth's Bavarian Inn Friday, Sept. 12.

To do that, he reminded them of the "terrible situation" the state was facing a few years ago.
"I think it's important to remind us where we were. We were a broken state, if you go back to 2009. We were broken in so many different ways," Snyder told the crowd at the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce's "Out of the Frying Pan — a Legislative Luncheon" at the Bavarian Inn, One Covered Bridge Lane. Read more: M Live

Kansas City Chamber's new Big 5 goal targets KC's 'No. 1 economic tool'

When the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce hosted its "No Bad Ideas" gathering with regional leaders, the chamber's next "Big 5" initiative became clear.
"The overwhelming consensus from that session was that no single issue impacted the health and vitality of our regional community and regional workforce more than education," Chamber Chairwoman Roshann Parris said during the chamber's Wednesday luncheon. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal

Northfield Minnesota Chamber names Bornhauser as executive director

The Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors announced Tuesday that it has named Todd Bornhauser as its executive director. Bornhauser has nearly 15 years of chamber leadership experience and is a longtime Northfield resident. He will assume his role on Oct. 1.

According to a Chamber release, Bornhauser’s résumé boasts of a successful tenure in the hospitality industry, including time as president at the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. During his time at the helm, Bornhauser helped to double the Lakeville Chamber’s membership base to more than 430 members and increased the operating budget to $335,000. Read more: Northfield News

Springfield Chamber Award: Nominate someone special for 2014 Humanitarian Award

Do you know any outstanding individuals who have made a long-term commitment to better their communities? People who have contributed not just money, but their minds and their time to the causes they hold dear?
If so, please consider nominating them for the 2014 Humanitarian Award. This will be the 25th year for this award, and the winner will join an outstanding roster of Ozarkers who represent a diverse range of interests and causes. Read more: Springfield News-Leader

Chamber news: 50 Best Places to Live in the U. S. - #3. Carmel, Indiana

When Carmel’s mayor, Jim Brainard, first ran for office nearly 20 years ago, he says he heard a common request: “People said it would be nice if we didn’t have to drive to have a nice dinner or see a show.”
His vision: Borrow the walkable, culture-filled model of the great European cities by re­vitalizing the downtown, replacing intersections with roundabouts (there are now about 90), and bringing in more performing arts.
Today residents of this perennially well-ranked city (it was No. 1 on our 2012 list) can hear local symphony or travel­ing acts at the Palladium, a 1,600-seat concert hall in the style of Venetian architect Andrea Pal-ladio, or see theater or dance at the Tarkington and Studio theaters. Money Magazine

Chamber news: North Dakota extends lowest state unemployment rate to 69 months

While the nation struggles with unemployment, and small new job numbers, one state stands alone in job growth. For more than five years, North Dakota has lead the nation with the lowest rate of unemployment. Read more: Digital Journal 

Chamber Tweet of the Day: Greater OKC Chamber

Greater OKC Chamber ‏@okcchamber 16h16 hours ago

Boeing to add up to 900 positions in Oklahoma City: http://ow.ly/C5xxP 

 

Chamber Event: U of O Mutt Strutt approaches

The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to hit the trails with your four-legged family members for the 3rd annual University of Okoboji Mutt Strutt Saturday, Oct. 4.
It's a fun and fur-filled one-mile walk begins at the Pearson Lakes Art Center at 8:30 a.m.
People and their pooches will strut their stuff over to the Dickinson County Nature Center and then back to the Art Center for a pet/owner look alike contest, best pet trick showdown and cutest mutt show!Read more: Dickinson County News

 

10 Questions to Ask on Your First Phone Call With Franchise Headquarters

By FranchiseKing, Guest Blogger

Published: September 16, 2014

It may end up being the most important phone call you’ll ever have as it relates to your decision to become your own boss.
The phone call I’m referring to: your first call with a representative from franchise headquarters of the franchise concept you’re interested in learning about.
In this post, I’m going to prepare you for the call and provide some great questions to ask the franchise sales representative, so you can determine if the franchise you’re interested in could be a good fit for you.
The Call
A conference call with the franchise salesperson will be scheduled after you request information from the company. It’s the only way to get the details and some of your preliminary questions answered. The franchisor’s website may be informative, but talking with a representative of the franchisor really needs to happen if you’re serious about getting the facts.
The first phone call is usually a friendly, “let’s get to know one another” type of call. You’ll be asked questions about your career, your reasons for wanting to be your own boss and other things that relate to your interest in the opportunity. You’ll also be asked some money questions; the salesperson wants to make sure you’re financially qualified to buy their franchise.
Next, it will be your turn to ask some questions about the franchise concept. Here are 10 good ones:

1. How long has the franchise company been in business?
2. How long has the franchise salesperson been with the company?
3. How many franchise units does the company currently have?
4. What does the franchisor look for in a franchisee?
5. What is the total investment?
6. Is there territory available in your area?
7. How long will it take to go through everything you need to know* and make a decision?
8. Does the franchisor offer financing?
9. What is the failure rate?
10. What does the future hold for this franchise concept? Read more: SBA.gov

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls, others build windmills.”

~Chinese proverb

 

Chamber Executive Oklahoma Digest - September 2014

Oklahoma State Chamber Welcomes New Board Members
 

Since its Annual Meeting in June, the State Chamber has added some new members to its Board of Directors. The board sets policies and issue positions through its committees and also chooses its leadership.

“We are very happy that these members with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise have taken the extra step to being involved,” said State Chamber President and CEO Fred Morgan. “We look forward to working together on an aggressive agenda for next year’s legislative session that will continue to move Oklahoma’s economy forward.”

The new Board members, along with their companies and location are:

• Joni Brooks, President & Publisher, The Journal Record (OKC) - replaces Mary Mélon
• Denise Johnson, President & CEO, Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma (OKC)
• LouAnn Smith, Business Development Officer, Nabholz Construction Services (Tulsa) - replaces Chris Burnett
• Phillip Teel, Manager, Clean Line Energy Partners, (OKC)
• Mike Terry, President, Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (OKC)
• Rickey Truelove, Market Unit Vice President, Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Co., (OKC) - replaces Jim Marvel 

Source: okchamber.com

Chamber future: Livable Tulsa: Competition for young professionals is intense

Talk to an out-of-state young professional or recent college graduate about where they want to live and work, and chances are Tulsa, like other Great Plains cities, won’t enter the discussion.

Tulsa, located in a landlocked state, doesn’t boast proximity to an ocean like Portland, Oregon, feature scenic mountain ranges like Denver or use a strong public transportation system like the Northeast corridor. But what young professionals — often defined as 20-to 39-year-olds — say Tulsa does have that sets it apart from more “popular” locales: A strong spirit of entrepreneurship, a high level of community engagement, lower rates of unemployment and, perhaps most importantly, affordability. Read more: Tulsa World

Enid Oklahoma Chamber collaboration: Participation is encouraged in regional consensus concept

Change is a constant of the universe.

In the northwest part of our state, one organization is dedicated to creating an opportunity for constructive change. The Northwest Oklahoma Alliance works to coordinate develop and promote our regional resources. NWOA is looking for visionary business and community leaders in Enid, Kingfisher, Guymon, Alva, Woodward and Fairview.

NWOA focuses on four industry sectors: Agriculture/Tourism, Business/Industry, Education/Health Care and Transportation/Utilities. Northwest Oklahoma faces its share of challenges. Out-migration, a below-average wage base and an overqualified workforce are three obstacles impeding our region's future economic development.A listening tour discussing key legislative principles is slated for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in the Nick Benson Memorial Ballroom in Enid Convention Hall, 301 S. Independence. Co-chairs of the meeting are Brent Kisling, executive director at Enid Regional Development Alliance, and Jon Blankenship, president of the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce. Read more: EnidNews.com

Chamber Meeting: OKC Schools Superintendent Challenges Business Leaders To Step Up
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce hosted its State of the Schools today, where Neu spoke candidly about the need to improve schools. And business leaders were listening.
“It's the last critical step for our city to be the best place for us to live and for our children to stay, to hire as business. So for businesses to be successful, we really and truly need businesses to step up and support our education reform now,” said Teresa Rose with the OKC Chamber of Commerce. Read more: News9.com

Chamber of Commerce speaker believes Sallisaw is on right track

From international offices to small business services, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) works in many ways to develop business and industry in Oklahoma. Darla Heller, ODOC regional development specialist, spoke to about 50 people during the monthly Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce meeting at noon Wednesday. The meeting was held on the campus of the Indian Capital Technology Center (ICTC) and Heller spoke for about 20 minutes. Read more: Sequoyah County Times

 

U.S. Chamber affordability ranking: Students from around the world study in Oklahoma

Officials with Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma expect each campus will have about 2,000 students from other countries for the fall semester. A growing number of international students who arrived on the East and West Coasts are making their way inland to study in Oklahoma. Officials with Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma expect each campus will have about 2,000 students from other countries for the fall semester, which begins Monday.

Cost is a big factor, said Tim Huff, manager of international students and scholars at OSU.

“We’re extremely competitive,” Huff said. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks Oklahoma higher education No. 7 in affordability. Read more: NewsOK.com

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - by Sheryl Sandberg, CEO Facebook

Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. This means that women’s voices are still not heard equally in the decisions that most affect our lives. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential.

Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto.

In Lean In, Sandberg digs deeper into these issues, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to cut through the layers of ambiguity and bias surrounding the lives and choices of working women. She recounts her own decisions, mistakes, and daily struggles to make the right choices for herself, her career, and her family. She provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, urging women to set boundaries and to abandon the myth of “having it all.”  She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women in the workplace and at home.

Written with both humor and wisdom, Sandberg’s book is an inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth. Lean In is destined to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can.

Chickasha Chamber State of Education breakfast discusses visions for future

Visionaries in the local education and business worlds met for breakfast on Monday morning to discuss education in Oklahoma.

The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce hosted a "State of Education" breakfast a the Canadian Valley Technology Center. The speakers were three leaders from the prominent schools of Chickasha: Dr. John H. Feaver, University of Science and Art Oklahoma President, David Cash, Superintendent of Chickasha Public Schools and Dr. Greg Z. Winters, Superintendent of Canadian Valley Technology Center. Read more: The Express-Star

Norman Chamber Event: Oklahoma needs women in leadership

Past and present elected officials set partisan politics aside and talked about the importance of women in leadership at the Norman Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday.

Former Lt. Governor Jari Askins, state representatives Lee Denney and Leslie Osborn, and Norman Mayor Cindy Rosenthal comprised a panel that responded to topics ranging from how they got involved in politics and public service, to the major issues facing them today. Read more: Norman Transcript

Altus, Oklahoma Chamber President: $400 million ‘retail leakage’

Approximately $400 million dollars per year is “leaking” from local retailers and is being spent in other towns, Altus Chamber of Commerce President Brian Bush said as the guest speaker at the Southwest Oklahoma Republican Women meeting on Thursday, Aug. 28. That is potentially $14 million annual that could go to City services and infrastructure based on the city tax of 3.5 percent, he explained. Read more: AltusTimes.com

Tweet of the day: Retweeted by Ok State Chamber

Governor Mary Fallin ‏@GovMaryFallin 15h

Glad to see small businesses and Oklahoma employers are paying over 20 percent less in work comp insurance. http://bit.ly/1q8L3tT

More information: For the second straight year, workers’ compensation loss costs used by insurers to determine rates for employers will show an overall decrease. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has filed an overall loss cost level decrease of 7.8 percent, bringing the total two-year decrease to 22.4 percent. “This is great news for Oklahoma’s economy,” said Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak. “When employers pay less for workers’ compensation insurance, they can more easily grow their business, hire additional workers and expand local economies. I’m extremely encouraged to see the continuation of this positive trend. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it all started with Oklahoma’s push for workers’ compensation reform.” Read more: OK.gov

Norman (Oklahoma) Chamber of Commerce announces Leadership Class

Thirty Norman residents have been chosen to participate in the Chamber’s 34th Leadership Norman class. The program is designed to identify and motivate emerging leaders through development of their potential for community leadership. During the next several months, participants will attend 15 interactive sessions covering a variety of topics including communication, education, personal leadership, quality of life issues, city and state government, health care and economic development. Class members will also be given the opportunity to serve area nonprofits. Read more: Norman Transcript

State Chamber of Oklahoma: Railroad Crossing Improvements Address Safety Concerns

Governor Fallin, ODOT to be commended for addressing transportation needs

Today’s announcement that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) will be addressing a backlog of railroad crossing improvements around the state is welcome news to the business community. The plan will address more than 300 crossings in the state with an infrastructure investment of $100-million.

“For many years, Oklahoma faced a mountain of deficient bridges and dangerous rail crossings,” said State Chamber of Oklahoma President and CEO Fred Morgan. “Governor Fallin and Department of Transportation officials are to be commended for their work in addressing both of these areas to the benefit of all Oklahomans.” Read more: State Chamber of Oklahoma

Chamber business: Goldman Sachs is looking to help 10,000 small businesses with a $500 MILLION investment

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is a $500 million investment to help small businesses create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to business education, financial capital, and business support services. 10,000 Small Businesses is designed for business owners with limited resources who have a business poised for growth. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to growing their business and creating jobs within their community. Learn more about this program and eligibility requirements. Further information: 10,000 Small Businesses  

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Education)

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”--- Albert Einstein

Chamber Executive Wisconsin Digest - September 2014

Milwaukee Chamber goal: 20,000 high-performing students by 2020 - it's enough to fill an arena

By MMAC President Tim Sheehy

Imagine 50 high-performing schools serving 20,000 low-income, minority students in the City of Milwaukee who are reading and doing math at or above their grade level. Students who are prepared to take on high school, who are prepared for two and four year colleges, or ready to start apprenticeship programs. It's enough students to fill an arena.

Today, fewer than a dozen schools are meeting these standards, with a student population that would fill less than half the lower bowl of the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Read more: Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

Chamber heart: Bikers invade Northern Wisconsin for annual Tomahawk Fall Ride for MDA

The Northwoods will turn into a roaring rally for charity this weekend as the Tomahawk Ride for MDA returns today.

The annual event draws tourists from around the world to take a trip to central and Northern Wisconsin. Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce director Tamra Anderson says bikers are already here. "People are rolling into town, they've been rolling in since last Saturday. Over the next several days we'll have anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 people invading our area. Lots of good times, lots of rides, lots of fundraising for MDA, food, music." Read more: WBHL News

Chamber growth opportunity: Oshkosh, Wisconsin starting aviation business park

The Oshkosh area is creating a new space for aviation-related businesses to build. Officials from the city and Winnebago County broke ground on an aviation business park, on W. Ripple Avenue near Wittman Regional Airport.

Oshkosh Area Chamber of Commerce president John Casper says several businesses have talked about relocating near the EAA over the years. But he says there wasn't a suitable space for them. Casper says the park could attract a variety of businesses. Read more: News Talk 1150 WHBY

Fox Cities Chamber debut: Appleton's Octoberfest gets its own beer

One of the main draws for the estimated 100,000 people who pack downtown Appleton every year for Octoberfest is beer.

This year, the thirsty patrons will have the opportunity to get a taste of something extra special.

Organizers of the annual Octoberfest block party have teamed with Wisconsin Distributors and the Wisconsin Brewing Company for a specially brewed beer just for this year's event. The celebration begins Sept. 26 with License to Cruise and continues Sept. 27 with a full-day slate of live music, arts and crafts, food and drinks. Read more: Appleton Post Crescent

Wisconsin state rep Steineke receives award from chamber of commerce

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state’s chamber of commerce, recently honored state Rep. Jim Steineke with the “Working for Wisconsin” Award at Expera Specialty Solutions LLC in Kaukauna.

The award is given to legislators who stand up for jobs and improve the state’s business climate by voting 80 percent or greater in support of the pro-jobs position on the WMC legislative scorecard. Read more: PostCrescent.com

Tweet of the Day: Schools That Can Milwaukee - Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce

Retweeted by MMAC

STC Milwaukee ‏@STCMilwaukee 14m

We're almost there! @MMAC_Chamber just needs 100 more followers to donate $1,000 to STCM! Please click, follow, and RT now!

WMC: Federal Regs Cost U.S. Economy More Than $2 Trillion Annually

Complying with federal regulations costs Americans $2.028 trillion in lost economic growth annually, or roughly equivalent to 12 percent of total GDP that could be invested back into our nation’s businesses, according to a new study commissioned by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

The study, conducted by economists Nicole V. and W. Mark Crain, concluded that manufacturing businesses face a disproportionate share of the burden, or $19,564 per employee per year—nearly double what the average U.S. business pays to comply with federal rules. Small manufacturers pay more than three times as much as the average U.S. firm. That is $34,671 per employee per year that small manufacturers could use to grow their businesses and create jobs.

With more than 9,400 manufacturers in the state employing over 450,000 workers (nearly 17 percent of the state’s entire employees), Wisconsin consistently ranks among the nation’s top states for manufacturing jobs per capita, reports the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Wisconsin has demonstrated its resiliency in manufacturing by continuing to add jobs in the sector, ranking 5th in the nation for manufacturing job creation from 2009 through 2012, reports WEDC. Read more: Wisconsin Manufacturing & Commerce

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - by Sheryl Sandberg, CEO Facebook

Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. This means that women’s voices are still not heard equally in the decisions that most affect our lives. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential.

Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto.

In Lean In, Sandberg digs deeper into these issues, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to cut through the layers of ambiguity and bias surrounding the lives and choices of working women. She recounts her own decisions, mistakes, and daily struggles to make the right choices for herself, her career, and her family. She provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, urging women to set boundaries and to abandon the myth of “having it all.”  She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women in the workplace and at home.

Written with both humor and wisdom, Sandberg’s book is an inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth. Lean In is destined to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can.

Rep. Dean Knudson receives State Chamber’s “Working for Wisconsin” Award 

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), the State’s Chamber of Commerce, recently honored Rep. Dean Knudson with the prestigious “Working for Wisconsin” Award at Xcel Energy in Hudson. The award is given to legislators who stand up for jobs and improve the state’s business climate by voting 80 percent or greater in support of the pro-jobs position on the WMC legislative scorecard. Read more: River Falls Journal

Chamber history: When Sputnik Crashed in Wisconsin - Half a century later, the town of Manitowoc commemorates its biggest day ever.

It came from outer space…. and crashed down in the middle of a street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

That surely sounds like the start of a sci-fi movie. But half a century ago, the town was on the receiving end of a 20-pound smoldering hunk of the Soviet Union’s five-ton Sputnik IV satellite.

Media reports from the September 6, 1962 event say there were no eyewitnesses, but “there are hundreds if you ask now,” says J. Gregory Vadney, executive director of the Rahr-West Art Museum, which hosts the festival. Vadney says he heard there were “two police officers on routine patrol when they spotted the piece in the street. They believed it to be a metal ingot from one of the local manufacturing plants, speculated that it fell off a truck, and left it. Following patrol, they returned to the city police station, where they heard that a search had been called for the Sputnik IV spacecraft” and suddenly realized what they’d found. Read more: Air & Space Magazine 

Chamber business: Goldman Sachs is looking to help 10,000 small businesses with a $500 MILLION investment

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is a $500 million investment to help small businesses create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to business education, financial capital, and business support services. 10,000 Small Businesses is designed for business owners with limited resources who have a business poised for growth. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to growing their business and creating jobs within their community. Learn more about this program and eligibility requirements. Further information: 10,000 Small Businesses  

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Education)

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”--- Albert Einstein

Chamber Executive Kansas Digest - September 2014

Wichita Metro Chamber's Chairman Wayne Chambers: Reauthorize Ex-Im Bank 

The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to drive economic growth and community advancement in the Wichita region. This means helping companies of all sizes around Wichita grow. When they grow, they hire more employees and the entire Kansas economy benefits.

That’s the primary reason the chamber supports Congress’ reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. If Congress doesn’t act and reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank by Sept. 30, the bank will close and put important good-paying jobs in Kansas at risk.

Since 1934, the Ex-Im Bank has played a critical role in assisting our economy. While the bank was created to support exports and imports, its current focus is on supporting exports by providing working-capital guarantees (pre-export financing), export credit insurance, loan guarantees and direct loans (buyer financing). In Kansas, the Ex-Im Bank has helped about 65 businesses – large and small – export products abroad and in turn sustain the Kansas and Wichita economies.

These are companies in our backyard, such as Cargill, CNH Industrial, Learjet, Beechcraft and Cessna (Textron Aviation). The bank also helps other businesses that don’t directly export, such as Spirit AeroSystems, Clearwater Engineering, McGinty Machine and many other suppliers that would be adversely affected if the bank closed. Read more: Wichita Eagle Opinion Column

Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce releases update to 'Big 5' ideas for growth

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce says it's making strides toward meeting its top goals for the region. The goals, dubbed the Big 5, were identified nearly three years ago. They include moving the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City to a new downtown location. In its latest Big 5 update, the chamber noted that a site adjacent to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has been selected, and fundraising continues. Read more: The Republic

Chamber Tweet of the Day: Kansas Chamber

The Kansas Chamber ‏@KansasChamber Sep 13

A real life example of how the Kansas tax cuts are helping businesses grow, and Kansans find jobs. #ksleg http://m.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2014/09/brownback-mcginty-machine-a-tangible-example-of.html?r=full …

Lawrence Kansas Chamber of Commerce CEO confident despite lagging job growth, high taxes

It wasn’t a very “chamber of commerce” thing to say. A chamber president is traditionally a community’s top salesperson. But here was a letter from Lawrence’s new chamber president and CEO that sure didn’t do much to sell Lawrence’s blue skies and green parks. Instead, Larry McElwain told chamber members earlier this month what he has learned thus far in his seven weeks on the job: The community’s taxes are high and rising, the city has few job opportunities and a high cost of living, some residents feel marginalized by community leaders, instability with the chamber’s CEO position has hindered the chamber’s ability to lead, and residents are hungry for community leadership to emerge.

McElwain — a Lawrence fixture since the mid 1960s — clearly has decided now is not the time for a sales pitch. Read more: Lawrence Journal-World

 

Salina, Kansas Journal – “Chamber brings it all together”

Construction work is beginning on the Kansas State University-Bulk Solids Innovation Center. If you drive past 607 N. Front St., you will see groundwork progressing for this new research center. Bulk solids are any dry powders or granules such as flour, grain, chemicals and plastic pellets. Industry uses them as raw materials in most of the manufacturing plants around the world, and they have regular problems when they need to convey the materials or get them to flow consistently out of silos or hoppers. Imagine, for example, your dismay at breakfast if your donut manufacturer's powdered sugar had stopped flowing in his bakery, or if your coffee tasted lousy because the beans had been broken to pieces before they were roasted.Industry has the need to reduce problems and improve their efficiencies when handling bulk solid materials. Salina is uniquely suited to address this need because of our combination of cooperative university, industry and government entities. K-State Salina will lead the student and business education aspects, and K-State's campuses in both Salina and Manhattan will use this center for research. We have great local companies that manufacture valves and conveying systems for this industry and sell them globally. And our city, state and federal governments have provided vital support for the project.
But despite the need and Salina's unique ability to meet the need, this project would not have happened without the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce's ability to coordinate all of these entities and get them to work together. This is one of the strengths of our local chamber -- they knew the right people at the correct level of every entity and were adept at getting them to work in the same direction. Read more: Salina Journal

Chamber Vision: Forces gather behind new plan to remake slice of KC’s urban core

Don’t go thinking this could be easy. The pieces in a proposed Kansas City urban renewal plan certainly look as promising as any seen yet by some Warren Buffett-backed consultants who have seen real neighborhood transformation work. “This is as exciting as they come,” Greg Giornelli told the Kansas City school board this week. Giornelli, president of the Atlanta-based Purpose Built Communities, is helping Kansas City’s Urban Neighborhood Initiative foster plans to remake the heart of the city’s urban core. The initiative, one of the “Big 5” ideas in the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 vision for prosperity, has a lot of advantages over other cities’ renewal projects, he said. Read more: Kansas City Star

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - by Sheryl Sandberg, CEO Facebook

Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. This means that women’s voices are still not heard equally in the decisions that most affect our lives. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential.

Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto.

In Lean In, Sandberg digs deeper into these issues, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to cut through the layers of ambiguity and bias surrounding the lives and choices of working women. She recounts her own decisions, mistakes, and daily struggles to make the right choices for herself, her career, and her family. She provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, urging women to set boundaries and to abandon the myth of “having it all.”  She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women in the workplace and at home.

Written with both humor and wisdom, Sandberg’s book is an inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth. Lean In is destined to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can.

 

Chiefs, KC business community celebrate new season

About 800 people showed up at this year's Kansas City Chiefs Kickoff Luncheon, hosted by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the biggest turnout ever.

The event is designed to give the local business community an opportunity to show appreciation for the Kansas City Chiefs, and for the team to thank the business community for its support over the past 50 years. Read more: Kansas City Business Journal

Chamber business: Goldman Sachs is looking to help 10,000 small businesses with a $500 MILLION investment

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is a $500 million investment to help small businesses create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to business education, financial capital, and business support services. 10,000 Small Businesses is designed for business owners with limited resources who have a business poised for growth. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to growing their business and creating jobs within their community. Learn more about this program and eligibility requirements. Further information: 10,000 Small Businesses 

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Education)

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”--- Albert Einstein

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone by Mark Goulston M.D.; Tulsa Regional Chamber: Partners In Education Kickoff: Ignite!; Chamber Tweet of the Day: Madison, WI Chamber; Chamber news: 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. #2. Maple Grove, Minnesota; Annual Chamber Directory or Map; Osage Chamber partnership: Mitchell County farms share healthy harvest bounty; SBA Announces New Certificate of Competency Contracting Course to Help Small Business Contractors; Lake of the Ozarks West Chamber (Missouri) seeking new Executive Director; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone - by Mark Goulston M.D.

The first make-or-break step in persuading anyone to do any thing is getting them to hear you out. Whether the person is a harried colleague, a stressed-out client, or an insecure spouse, things will go from bad to worse if you can't break through emotional barricades. Drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist, business consultant, and coach, and backed by the latest scientific research, author Mark Goulston shares simple but power ful techniques readers can use to really get through to people--whether they're coworkers, friends, strangers, or enemies. Getting through is a fine art but a critical one. With the help of this groundbreaking book readers will be able to turn the "impossible" and "unreachable" people in their lives into allies, devoted customers, loyal colleagues, and lifetime friends.

Source: ACCE

Tulsa Regional Chamber: Partners In Education Kickoff: Ignite!

Tuesday, September 30, 2014 from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM (CDT) - Tulsa, OK

Imagine that you’re in front of an audience made up of your colleagues, and people from your community, about to present a 5-minute talk on the thing you’re most passionate about. You’ve brought 20 slides, which advance every 15 seconds whether you’re ready or not. You have a few last-minute butterflies, but off you go—and the crowd loves it. Welcome to Ignite.

Ignite is a fast-paced geek event started by Brady Forrest, Technology Evangelist for O'Reilly Media, and Bre Pettis of Makerbot.com, formerly of MAKE Magazine. Speakers are given 20 slides, each shown for 15 seconds, giving each speaker 5 minutes of fame. The first Ignite took place in Seattle in 2006, and since then the event has become an international phenomenon, with gatherings in Helsinki, Finland; Paris, France; New York, New York; and now Tulsa, OK.

The Tulsa Regional Chamber is hosting the first ever Ignite event and we want your organization to participate. Enlighten us but, make it quick. This event will serve as the Partners In Education Kickoff so the presentations will reach to largest audience possible and makes them aware of all of the educational initiatives and opportunities available.

Have questions about Partners In Education Kickoff: Ignite!? Contact Tulsa Regional Chamber 

Chamber Tweet of the Day: Madison, WI Chamber

Madison, WI Chamber ‏@MadisonBiz 17h

#Madison is a top city in America to start a new company via @journalsentinel http://bit.ly/1riJVE5  #recap #FuturePerfect

One of the most common questions we receive at gener8tor is what it is like to work in Madison and Milwaukee. The short version of our answer is that it often feels like different planets. And for startups, Madison is the runaway favorite at the moment for starting and growing a high-impact company. For groups like ours and the many others who have committed to building a strong Milwaukee over the long-term, this might be a bit of a wakeup call. If there was any remaining doubt about that assessment from our point of view, the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce dinner last night drove that doubt out.

Zach Brandon, who heads up the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, has a clear vision for how to brand Madison: a top city in America to start a new company. Zach has made a point of using the Chamber's considerable influence to extend this vision through collaborative events over the past year that brought Madison startups to Silicon Valley, hosted JB Pritzker to town to elaborate on his own visionary work in Chicago and offered constant cheerleading on behalf of established and emerging companies in the Madison region.

Read more: Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel

Chamber news: 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. #2. Maple Grove, Minnesota

 

Isaac and Liz Knoot moved to Maple Grove eight years ago, after searching for a place that offered easy access to Minneapolis—and even easier access to bike paths, running trails, and open space. This small city fit the bill then, and, thanks to a provision requiring developers to fund trails and green space, has only gotten better since. Today a 36-mile network of paved paths loop through Maple Grove, making it easy to reach its parks, sports complexes, schools, and all 10 lakes. “When I was training for a marathon, I could run 24 miles and only cross one street,” says Isaac, 36, who walks to his in-town job as a director of sales strategy at Boston Scientific. Liz, 33, runs a small law practice just outside of town. Money Magazine

Annual Chamber Directory or Map

Get a free estimate for your chamber on a professional gloss chamber map, chamber app, community profile or membership directory. Call John Dussman of Village Profile at (800)-600-0134 x239 or email jdussman.vp@villageprofilemail.com. If your chamber has 400 members or more, please ask about several multimedia options available to your chamber.

Osage Chamber partnership: Mitchell County farms share healthy harvest bounty

Mitchell County residents took advantage of good weather Sept. 6 to visit farms and businesses that feed them. From pumpkins to meat to wine, mums and melons, farms in Orchard, Osage and St. Ansgar offered tours as part of Fresh on the Farm.
The afternoon was sponsored by Healthy Harvest of North Iowa in partnership with local farmers, Mitchell County Extension, the Osage Chamber of Commerce and NCR-SARE. Read more: Agri-News.com

SBA Announces New Certificate of Competency Contracting Course to Help Small Business Contractors

By John Shoraka, SBA Official
Published: September 18, 2014

If you are a small business seeking contracting opportunities with the federal government, the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, check out the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s new online training module, Certificate of Competency-Program Overview which contains an accompanying workbook in the Government Contracting Classroom.

The Certificate of Competency (COC) Program plays a significant role in federal procurement because it allows a small business to appeal a contracting officer’s determination that it is unable to fulfill the requirements of a specific contract on which it is otherwise in line to receive.  It further allows the SBA to review the circumstances, and if applicable, issue a Certificate of Competency on behalf of the small business contractor to the contracting officer.  This is important because the program helps a small business establish or reestablish itself as a viable government contractor. Read more: SBA. gov 

Lake of the Ozarks West Chamber (Missouri) seeking new Executive Director

SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. — The Lake of the Ozarks West Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new Executive Director. Read more: LakeExpo.com


Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

 

“I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.” 

~Sara Teasdale

Www.emilyssongs.com