Chamber news: Economists predict continued Michigan job growth; A Q&A with Matt Morrow, new Springfield Area (Missouri) Chamber of Commerce president; Jay Byers of Greater Des Moines Partnership to lead Iowa Chamber Alliance; El Dorado Arkansas Chamber Chatter; Robert Dahl named Hermantown Area chamber 'Volunteer of the Year'; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

Chamber news: Economists predict continued Michigan job growth

Michigan's economy will continue to improve over the next two years after five years of steady job growth, University of Michigan economists said Friday in an annual forecast.
In their November outlook, George Fulton, Joan Crary and Donald Grimes predicted that the state will add a total of more than 132,000 jobs in 2015 and 2016. That would mean that by the end of 2016, the state would have added nearly 463,000 jobs since the summer of 2009.
Fulton, the director of the school's Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics, said there are "several positive story lines" when looking at Michigan's economy in additional to job growth. The unemployment rate is down and the auto industry's sales have been strong.
"With the court's approval of Detroit's plan for the adjustment of its debts, the city is about to exit bankruptcy, creating excitement about a fresh start for Michigan's largest city," Fulton said in a statement. "And three major credit-rating agencies have upgraded Michigan's outlook in the past few years. Read more: Lansing State Journal

A Q&A with Matt Morrow, new Springfield Area (Missouri) Chamber of Commerce president

Early last Monday, as most people were still drinking their morning coffee, Matt Morrow began his first day as president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce at a local news/talk radio station, KWTO.
It was a fitting start in a familiar setting for Morrow. After all, working in radio launched him on a communications career path that would transition into leadership and advocacy roles in Missouri, Washington, D.C. and Birmingham, Ala.
The Ozarks native was selected earlier this year to lead the chamber after Jim Anderson retired from the position in June.
Morrow's wife, Rachel, and kids Anna, 10, and Alex, 7, are still in Birmingham. In 2012, Morrow left his position as CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield to take a similar job at the larger Greater Birmingham Association of Home Builders. Sometime early next year, his family will make the transition back to the Ozarks where plenty of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins eagerly await... Read more: Springfield News-Leader


Jay Byers of Greater Des Moines Partnership to lead Iowa Chamber Alliance

The chief executive of central Iowa’s largest economic development group will lead the Iowa Chamber Alliance next year.Greater Des Moines Partnership CEO Jay Byers will serve as the alliance’s 2015 chairman, the business group said Tuesday.
Byers takes over for Ames Chamber of Commerce CEO Dan Culhane, who will serve in the role of immediate past chair.
Dee Baird, the CEO of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, will serve as 2015 vice chair. Executives from the Quad Cities, Greater Burlington and Siouxland chambers also have leadership roles. Read more: Des Moines Register


El Dorado Arkansas Chamber Chatter

The El Dorado Chamber of Commerce is excited to provide you with an invigorated list of events for 2015! After hearing our members' feedback, Chamber staff has developed a couple of new signature networking events (Chamber Golf Classic and Shrimpfest) that we are confident you will circle on your calendar every year in the future. Enjoy the day on the Golf Course and meet new contacts. Meet friends and business associates in a relaxed atmosphere at Shrimpfest while eating Gulf Coast cuisine and listening to great music.

The chamber will be holding a "A Passion for Service" seminar hosted by Bill Drury Seminars in January.  This workshop will show employees and managers how to win costumers and reduce lost sales. You will hear how your business can go to the next level of service excellence and create lifetime loyal customers. It has received rave reviews from over 200 Chambers of Commerce and thousands of companies. The speaker, Bill Drury, has delivered over 1,000 workshop presentations the last 15 years! Read more: El Dorado  Chamber Chatter

Robert Dahl named Hermantown Area chamber 'Volunteer of the Year'

The Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce has named Robert Dahl as its 2014 Volunteer of the Year.
“Bob has played a significant role in Chamber events such as unWINEd and the annual Golf Outing, but especially in the growth of Ambassadors Program,” said Mike Lundstrom, Chamber executive director. “It is with great appreciation that we recognize Bob for his unselfish contributions as 2014 Chamber Volunteer of the Year.”Read more: BusinessNorth.com

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

RULE #33 - Interview municipal leaders before a job interview.