Chamber Executive Nebraska Digest - September 2014

Des Moines #1, Omaha #3 on Forbes - America's 15 Best Cities For Young Professionals
 

The American economy has pumped out more than 200,000 jobs a month for six months running, as of the latest (July) numbers. Still, more than 2 million college-educated workers age 25 or older are unemployed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workers age 25 to 34 face a 6.6% unemployment rate—the highest of any group other than the one encompassing new grads (ages 20-24).

But in Omaha, Neb., the situation is considerably better. Nebraska’s most populous city has an overall unemployment rate of just 4.1% (projected 2014, by Moody's MCO +0.71%), helping it to land the No. 3 spot on our list of America’s Best Cities for Young Professionals. It boasts a strong presence of large businesses (1 for every 810 residents) as well as small-to-medium ones (1 for every 52 residents). Warren Buffett’s hometown is headquarters to the Fab Five,  a group of Fortune 500 companies that includes Berkshire Hathaway , Union Pacific UNP +0.27% Corp., ConAgra Foods CAG +0.41%, Kiewit Corporation and Mutual of Omaha. San Jose-based PayPal chose to put its operations center there.Read more: Forbes

Nebraska Chamber Holds Fall Forum in Beatrice

Like other lobbying organizations, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Industry will have to get familiar with new faces in state government, this coming year. The organization held one of several fall forums at Aunt Mary’s Center in Beatrice, Tuesday, seeking survey input from citizens. 

State Chamber President Barry Kennedy notes that 17 senators must leave the legislature because of term limits, but as many as 20 new faces could be seen.Beatrice 1450 KWBE

McCook Area Chamber Nebraska reviews top priorities

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors will take another look at the chamber's goals, mission statement, and overall direction at their next meeting in September. The makeup of the chamber board is continually evolving, as well as recent changes in staffing at the Chamber office.

For that reason, it is very important that the board set clear priorities for staff, according to Chamber Director Tacie, Fawver.  She encourages any chamber member to share their ideas with her or with a chamber board member. The board will also be reviewing feedback from a 2012 survey of chamber members to assist in the goal-setting session. Read More: McCook Gazette

Grand Island Chamber news: State official says Nebraska’s economy continuing to grow

Whether it’s in state, across the country or overseas, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development is finding ways to help grow Nebraska’s economy, acting Director Dacia Kruse said. Kruse spoke on Tuesday to the Grand Island Rotary Club, explaining how the department works, its various missions and its goal of getting the biggest bang for taxpayers’ money. Read more: Grand Island Independent

 

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: "Worth Every Penny - Build a Business That Thrills Your Customers and Still Charge What You're Worth" by Erin Verbeck and Sarah Petty

A revelation for small business owners: creating a profitable business is possible without getting into a slash-and-burn price war with your competitors. Many small business owners feel pressure to discount their products and services, especially when times are tough. After all, how else will they keep up with the low prices offered by their discounting competitors? What they don't realize is that discounting is the last thing they should be doing if they want to win big. Sarah Petty and Erin Verbeck are here to show you that there's a radically different way to run a small business-- one in which the owners focus on creating specialized offerings and an over-the-top customer experience, not on matching the prices of their competition. Worth Every Penny encourages you to explore and use this model, which is designed to maximize your advantages over the big-box stores and other discounting competitors.

You'll learn how to:

--Build a brand that lays the foundation for you to charge what your offerings are worth.

--Create products, services and high-touch customer experiences to achieve healthy margins and an outspokenly happy and loyal client base.

--Understand how to use a pricing strategy that allows you to create demand and attract the right customers instead of discounting.

--Throw traditional advertising to the wind and implement a boutique way of marketing to excel in this competitive business environment.

--Learn the relationship-based sales skills needed to close every sale and have your clients clamoring for more.

The authors' strategies are enhanced by real-life business experiences and vivid anecdotes from all types of business owners--restaurateurs to contractors to professional service providers and photographers. With the advice in Worth Every Penny, you will be inspired to live your passion and pass your enthusiasm on to your customers. The result: a profitable business that avoids succumbing to the pressure to discount. Source: Barnes & Noble 

Nebraska State Chamber’s Legislative Forum visits York

 Nebraska employers — city and rural alike — have jobs but too few qualified candidates to fill them. That was listed as the top concern Barry Kennedy of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce hears as he travels the state speaking to business owners in metro areas and farming communities border to border. The annual fall Legislative Seminar came to lunch at Chances R at noon Thursday.

Other hot button issues for state companies large and small are taxation, economic development and the cost of doing business ... definitely including increasingly ponderous governmental meddling and regulation. Read more:  York News-Times

Syracuse Nebraska Chamber members discuss new mine

A new Niobium mine in Elk Creek was part of the discussion at the August Chamber of Commerce meeting. Niobium is a material that strengthens steel, and there are no mines in the United States. If this mine plans move forward, it could mean growth for Syracuse and other surrounding towns.  An estimated 600-1000 construction workers could arrive in the area to begin construction as soon as spring. Read more: Journal Democrat

Nebraska State Chamber makes a stop in North Platte

North Platte was the first stop for representatives of the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce and Industry to begin the annual tour of the state for a look at community business, education, demographics and other trends. One of the issues reported by North Platte and area businesses is a lack of available, qualified workers.

Jamie Karl, a state chamber lobbyist, said over 52 percent of the respondents to a chamber survey in 2013 reported they had difficulty finding employees. Karl gave several reasons for this: Low unemployment in Nebraska, a lack of skilled labor and out migration of college graduates to other areas over the last two years. Read more: Lexington Clipper Herald

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

RULE #8 - Recruit board members that sign the front of the checks, not the back.