Chamber Day in Kentucky brings tone of bipartisanship, shared legislative priorities; Tomorrow- Save the Date – 2015 Annual Legislative Reception Planned for Arkansas Annual Legislative Reception; Penny Shanks of Clarkston Chamber set to Retire after 18 years; Oak Lawn (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce To Host 69th Annual Installation Event; Pulaski County (Virginia) Chamber of commerce announces plans for 2015; Lexie Ruter reviews Esterville Area (Iowa) Chamber accomplishments; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

Chamber Day in Kentucky brings tone of bipartisanship, shared legislative priorities

Lawmakers and business leaders expressed a desire to work together to move Kentucky forward during the 20th annual Kentucky Chamber Day dinner.

A crowd of more than 1,300 business leaders, legislators and advocates came together in Lexington Thursday night to talk about where Kentucky stands and how the state can improve.

Kentucky Chamber President and CEO David Adkisson spoke of the positive growth in the economy and the encouraging bipartisan tone among legislators to accomplish important tasks. Adkisson said during the 2015 session, the Kentucky Chamber wants to see more policies that will make the state more competitive.

“Not surprisingly, the business community wants to see more growth, more jobs created, more commerce.  On behalf of tens of thousands of employers across the state, the Kentucky Chamber advocates policies that will make the economic climate of Kentucky more competitive … not just with surrounding states, but with the world,” Adkisson told the crowd. Read more: Kentucky Chamber



Tomorrow- Save the Date – 2015 Annual Legislative Reception Planned for Arkansas Annual Legislative Reception


Save the Date for January 20, 2015.
The Arkansas State Chamber/AIA will once again host our Annual Legislative Reception.  This must-attend event will include invitations to members of the 90th Arkansas General Assembly, Governor-elect Asa Hutchinson and other newly elected Constitutional officers, and state agency heads.
Please add this event to your calendar and plan to join us from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. on January 20^th under the heated big tent on our parking lot. Read more: Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce

Penny Shanks of Clarkston Chamber set to Retire after 18 years


From Penny Shanks, Clarkston Chamber

After 18 years with the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce, I am retiring and moving to Ann Arbor.  This move dramatically shortens my husband's commute and creates an opportunity for us to downsize from a 4 bedroom suburban home to an urban condo.  http://lifehacker.com/ditching-your-commute-is-the-happiness-equivalent-of-a-1679698849

I leave the chamber in very strong and capable hands.  

I am so pleased to announce that the Executive Committee has hired Janelle Best as your new Executive Director!

Janelle started with the Chamber two years ago.  When we did that strategic hire I was looking for a potential talented person who could be an option of also being my successor.  Janelle has exceeded my expectations-and my expectations were high.  She is quick to learn, strategic in her analyses and while warm and personable, she also has a core of commitment and drive that is exceptional. 

I never dreamed I would be here for 18 years and I had no idea all the things I would learn and be a part of.  While at the Chamber I've had the opportunity to meet celebrities, get behind the scenes tours and been mentored by some of the most exceptional business leaders. 

I've served under 19 Presidents: (Read more:) Clarkston Chamber

 

Oak Lawn (Illinois) Chamber of Commerce To Host 69th Annual Installation Event

Members and supporters of the Oak Lawn business community will gather on Saturday, January 31st at the Hilton Oak Lawn (9333 S. Cicero Ave.) to honor the 2015 Officers and Directors of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce during the 69th Annual Installation.
Tickets cost $50 per person and include a four-course dinner and a cash bar.
The evening begins with cocktails at 6:00 PM followed by the Installation of the Board of Directors and Business Award Presentation, dinner at 7:30 PM, music and dancing at 9:30 PM. Ms. Jennifer Villafan of 21st Century Chiropractic Family Wellness Center will be inducted as the 2015 President of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Villafan succeeds Michelle Williams of First Midwest Bank. Read more: Patch.com

 

Pulaski County (Virginia) Chamber of commerce announces plans for 2015

The Chamber of Commerce is looking to work with a full plate for the foreseeable year.
To kick off 2015, the Chamber hosted a breakfast for Pulaski County’s elected officials on Monday, Jan. 12. During the event, president Mike Waller summarized plans for the Chamber’s initiatives for the upcoming year.
First off, the Chamber has rebranded for 2015 with a new logo, updated website, and heightened social media presence.
“We wanted our website to really showcase what we do in Pulaski County; not only the typical things you associate with a Chamber of Commerce,” said executive director Peggy White. “Our reworked website will highlight, for example, workforce development and microbusinesses, because those are two areas we are heavily involved in.”
This year will also mark the third season for the Marketplace, which is set to begin Tuesday, May 19, and run through Tuesday, Sept. 16 at the Historic Train Depot in downtown Pulaski. Last fall, the Chamber received a $57,000 marketing and advertising grant to help promote the weekly summer event. Read more: The Southwest Times

Lexie Ruter reviews Esterville Area (Iowa) Chamber accomplishments

Editor's note: Following are remarks that Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lexie Ruter made at the Chamber annual banquet Thursday night at the Estherville VFW.

The term "Chamber of Commerce" was first used in 1723 and is currently defined as "an association of business people to promote commercial and industrial interests in the community". We have truly evolved since our start in 1904 here in Estherville. We are so much more than that definition.We strive to be the guiding force behind Estherville. We push for growth, for change and for betterment.There are many ways that we work toward these things and affect the Estherville community.

The easiest one to see is our events. Between the banquet, the Farm, Home and Living Show, the flight breakfast, the Downtown Market, Sweet Corn Days, Fright Hike, the Parade of Lights and Winter Nights, Holiday Lights and TUBACHRISTMAS it's tough to remember what event we are currently working on. Not to mention all of the retail promotional events on top of that. In 2015 we are very excited to be starting another new event for Estherville. The Defiance Mud Run will be a 5K in Fort Defiance State Park on May 2. We are incredibly excited to be adding another event and drawing more people into town.

One of our main goals here at the Chamber is to put heads in beds and get people to come experience Estherville! See more: Esterville Daily News

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

“A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.” William Arthur Ward