Chamber irreplacable: Fire destroys original Famous Dave's restaurant in Hayward, Wisconsin; Chamber collaboration: Asco Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary with the Expansion of Manufacturing Lines in Stillwater, Oklahoma; Chamber news: Director for Marshall economic development hired by Southwest Michigan First; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey: Rule #25

Chamber irreplacable: Fire destroys original Famous Dave's restaurant in Hayward, Wis.

The first Famous Dave's restaurant, built in northwestern Wisconsin in 1994 and the launching point for an international chain of barbecue restaurants, was destroyed by fire early Monday.
As fans of the restaurant mourned the loss of the landmark, its owners pledged to rebuild.
"This wasn't just a restaurant; it was my dream for 25 years before it even opened. Through many tough times in my younger days, it was this dream that kept me going through thick or thin," said owner Dave Anderson in a Facebook post Monday. "This restaurant was my dream for almost my whole life. ... (It) gave many young people their first job and helped many summer workers pay their way through school. But I believe that the Good Lord has always had a plan for our lives and we are going to reopen better than ever."
A resident from the town of Hayward called in the fire just before 4:30 a.m., the Sawyer County sheriff's office reported, and flames had engulfed the restaurant -- on the shore of Round Lake about 10 miles east of Hayward -- by the time firefighters arrived. No one was in the building at the time of the fire.
The state fire marshal was investigating the cause.
"It's going to be missed greatly," said Doug Smith, executive director of the Hayward Chamber of Commerce. "I don't know how you replace something like that." Read more: Twin Cities.com

Chamber collaboration: Asco Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary with the Expansion of Manufacturing Lines in Stillwater, Oklahoma

The state of the art lean manufacturing facility currently manufactures wing and fuselage components of the 737, 777 and 787 Boeing airplanes and is further expanding operations.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma Department of Carreer and Technology Education, Oklahoma Workforce Development, Metafund, REI Oklahoma, US Bank, the City of Stillwater and the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce have been very helpful and effective making this Asco location a possibility, declared Trudo Motmans, Chairman of the Asco Board of Directors. Read more: PR Web

Chamber news: Director for Marshall economic development hired by Southwest Michigan First

Southwest Michigan First has hired an economic development professional from Cleveland to head operations in Marshall.
The Kalamazoo-based organization also has hired three other employees, all with ties to the city, to complete the team.
Jim Robey will begin Nov. 3 as managing director of economic development in Marshall. He has 25 years of experience in economic development and urban studies, and previously served as managing director in Cleveland for global management firm Mohr Partners Inc.
Robey, who has a master's degree in public administration and a doctorate degree in urban studies from Cleveland State University, also was director of economic research at the Greater Cleveland Growth Association.
In a news release, Southwest Michigan First called Robey "one of the nation's premier business site selection and economic development experts." Battle Creek Enquirer


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

RULE #25     The key word in “broke-even” is broke.