Friday, October 17, 2014

Chamber Executive Nebraska Digest - October 2014 -

Chamber Spotlight: October: Nebraska Manufacturing Month
Gov. Dave Heineman touted Nebraska’s manufacturing industry Tuesday and previewed the 2014 Salute to Manufacturing tour to be held later this month. Joined by Barry Kennedy, President of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Chamber Chairman Chris Roth, President and CEO of Reinke Manufacturing Company in Deshler, Heineman signed a proclamation officially declaring the month of October to be Nebraska Manufacturing Month.
Nebraska exports to more than 170 countries, selling manufactured goods and services totaling more than $7 billion. Manufacturers employ nearly 10 percent of Nebraska’s workforce. The average manufacturing job in Nebraska pays nearly $55,000 annually. Read more: North Platte Bulletin

Kearney tops list of best places to live in Nebraska

Kearney has been named the best city to live in Nebraska by the CreditDonkey.com website. The report lists the top 10 places to live in the Cornhusker state according to five statistics: crime rate, commute time, income, education and restaurants per capita. Writers interpret statistics from the FBI and the U.S. Census Bureau to determine the list. Read more: Kearney Hub

Chamber future: Labor shortage is major concern across Nebraska

Statistics presented this week by Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials won’t surprise Tom Bernstein Jr. The president of Torin Products Inc. and president-elect of the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA) knows firsthand how difficult it is to find qualified, ambitious employees looking to work in the manufacturing industry.

“We always struggle to find help,” said Bernstein, who will become the PMPA’s first Nebraska-based president when he officially assumes the position next month. Read more: Columbus Telegram

Chamber Study: Nebraska State Fair brings millions to area

A recently completed study by the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce has found that the Nebraska State Fair's economic impact on the community exceeds $22 million. Chamber president Cindy Johnson told The Grand Island Independent that the study took into account both the State Fair's 2013 budget of $7.6 million and estimated spending of $14.7 million by State Fair visitors in the community in 2013. Read more: KETV.com

Niobium mine discussed at Syracuse chamber meeting

NioCorp is a name that is gaining recognition in Syracuse and surrounding areas. The company has been drilling near Elk Creek for a rare metal called niobium. Right now, they are in the planning and analysis phase, but the company believes there’s a high probability of a large mine that would bring hundreds of jobs to the area.

Niobium is mainly used in the form of Ferro-Niobium to produce HSLA (High Strength, Low Alloy) steel, to produce lighter, stronger steel for use in automotive, structural, and pipeline industries. The U.S. imports 100 percent of its niobium needs; 99 percent of it comes from Brazil. Read more: Journal-Democrat

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.

Chamber proud: Norfolk named ‘Community of the Year’

And the winner is . . . Norfolk.

The hub of Northeast Nebraska was named “Community of the Year” on Friday at the 47th annual Nebraska Diplomats’ “Passport Weekend” here. A large contingent of business and community leaders from Norfolk was on hand to accept the accolade presented by Gov. Dave Heineman.

Among those representing Norfolk were Mayor Sue Fuchtman; Mark Zimmerer, president of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce; Courtney Dentlinger, who heads the City of Norfolk’s economic development efforts; and Lee Klein, Madison County commissioner. Read more: Norfolk Daily News

Nebraska facing lack of skilled workers
Two state chamber officials told Rotary Club members on Tuesday that the biggest issue facing Nebraska’s employers is finding workers with the necessary skills to fill their jobs. Barry Kennedy, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Jamie Karl, vice president for public affairs and policy, made their remarks as part of a statewide tour to talk to business people about the issues they believe will face the next session of the Legislature.
Karl said the state chamber did a survey and asked employers the following question: “Have you had difficulty in hiring qualified employees in the past year?” Read more: Grand Island Independent

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: (Attitude)

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

-Sara Teasdale

Last month’s stories:

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