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