Chamber news: Michigan Governor to focus on jobs, roads during second term; Gov. Beshear announces Kentucky’s top 10 accomplishments for 2014; Cuban roots keep Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire chamber's Sosa in tune; El Dorado (Arkansas) Chamber presents: A Passion for Service ®; The Lynchburg Regional Chamber & Virginia's Region 2000 Business & Economic Alliance announce an intercity visit to Lexington, KY January 28-30; Chamber Tweet of the Day: @indychamber; Eleven questions with South Sioux City Chamber chairman Tom Baurichter; Scott City (Missouri) Chamber getting its own place; Dyersvilleville Area Chamber legislative luncheon: 4 state lawmakers: Narrow digital divide in Iowa; Chamber event: Constituents, lawmakers weigh in as Kansas opens legislative session;

Chamber news: Michigan Governor to focus on jobs, roads during second term

During his inaugural address, Snyder expressed enthusiasm about his first term and optimism for his second.
“We were a broken state,” he said. “We are a comeback state now, a state that is growing and thriving.”
Snyder called his efforts to improve the state’s economy and bring Detroit out of bankruptcy as significant accomplishments during his first term as governor. However, he said there is more to accomplish in his second term.
As discussed in his speech, here are five things to keep track of during the governor’s second term. Read more: The Michigan Daily

Gov. Beshear announces Kentucky’s top 10 accomplishments for 2014

Gov. Steve Beshear announced the state’s top 10 accomplishments for 2014. This year, Kentucky smashed records for business investment, created nearly 15,000 new jobs, enrolled more than half a million Kentuckians into affordable health care, slashed costs on critical transportation projects and invested more money into K-12 education than ever before, Beshear said.
“We’ve fought our way through the Great Recession during the past seven years to get to this point – employment rates back at pre-recession levels, real investment in our schools and health care for hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians,” Beshear said. “I’m grateful for the outstanding accomplishments in 2014, but we are nowhere close to finished. There is much more to do to support Kentucky families, and we will not rest until that work is complete. Fortunately, we have great momentum going into 2015.”
Top 10 Kentucky accomplishments: Read more: Lane Report

Cuban roots keep Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire chamber's Sosa in tune

Not long after Roger Sosa became the new executive director of the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce in December, Cuba's doors opened to American businesses.

While it's something to explore on the suburban level, Cuba's historic turnaround means something deeper for Sosa. His parents came from Cuba and they sought the American dream. He was even told to just speak English at home, although he remains fluent in Spanish, said Sosa, 56.

"They really wanted us to be Americans," he said.

And when he's not working at the chamber, he celebrates his Cuban heritage by performing as the lead singer/guitarist in a group called Los Perros Cubanos. The group performs vintage, pre-Castro music from the 1940s and other, more modern pieces, he said. Read more: Daily Herald

El Dorado (Arkansas) Chamber presents: A Passion for Service ®

 

Why do so many companies put more emphasis on attracting new customers than keeping the ones they already have? 

FACT:

A study of over 500 retailers and restaurants revealed that service is lacking in most businesses. 97% of companies studied failed mostly on lack of courtesy, skimpy product knowledge, not listening, no respect or negative attitudes. 

FACT:

Courting new business can cost up to five times more than strengthening relationships with current clients. 

FACT:

96% of unhappy customers never complain about discourtesy, but 91% of them will not buy again from a business that offended them. 

FACT:

Customers can now instantly blast their anger through Facebook, Twitter or YouTube and it can go viral in your community!! 

If you want to reduce lost sales and create lifetime loyal customers, 

THIS IS THE WORKSHOP! 

More Information: El Dorado Chamber


The Lynchburg Regional Chamber & Virginia's Region 2000 Business & Economic Alliance announce an intercity visit to Lexington, KY January 28-30

The Lynchburg Regional Chamber & Virginia's Region 2000 Business & Economic Alliance announce an intercity visit to Lexington, KY January 28-30 to exchange ideas, best practices and to discover how their successful collaboration could be replicated in Central VA for greater economic impact. 

  

Over 100 regional business and local government leaders were sent invitations to travel with the two organizations. Chamber Interim President Christine Kennedy stated “Lexington consistently ranks high in national rankings and has a great story of collaborating to create a regional vision for growth and therefore provides a bright spot for us to explore as we endeavor to work together to move our region forward.”     

The invitation cites several things that the two organizations hope to accomplish including:

1. Providing an exclusive experience between the dynamic regional leaders who play a significant role in shaping our Region.
2. Enhancing our region's future performance by benchmarking best practices of a peer region. 
3. Embracing actions we can import. We'll use what we learn to create a regional vision that puts us back out front again and advances our key priorities. Read more: Lynchburg Regional Chamber

Chamber Tweet of the Day: @indychamber



Indy Chamber ‏@IndyChamber 27m27 minutes ago

The key to #Indy's future lies in attracting and retaining talent. Join us at #AnnualEvent as we welcome @ngcrebecca http://ow.ly/Hf3lD

 

Eleven questions with South Sioux City Chamber chairman Tom Baurichter

It was an eventful last couple years for Tom Baurichter. In November 2013, F&M Bank, where he serves as president, celebrated its 50th year in business.
Last spring, he oversaw the opening of a new branch at Third and Virginia streets in Sioux City. It's the first location outside of Nebraska for the bank, which has South Sioux City locations at 2024 Dakota Ave. and 3300 Plaza Drive.
Last fall, F&M was named Business of the Year by the South Sioux City Area Chamber of Commerce.
By year's end, Baurichter was installed as chairman of the South Sioux Chamber's Board of Directors. The Chamber will hold its annual banquet Jan. 23 at the Marina Inn.
The Journal last week asked Baurichter, 55, about his career, his community and new leadership role.
Q: What was your first job?
A: Boatmen’s Bank in Springfield, Mo., which is my hometown. This was my first exposure into the field of banking, which created a love for this occupation and a desire to help customers reach their financial goals.
Q: What's kept you with F&M Bank for an extended period of time?
A: People! I love working with the community, our customers, employees and the bank ownership. Banking is all about people and matching up financial products and services to meet their needs.
Q: What's transpired with F&M lately that led to the South Sioux City Chamber recognizing the bank as its Business of the Year? Read more: Sioux City Journal

Scott City (Missouri) Chamber getting its own place

For the first time in its history, the Scott City Chamber of Commerce is adding a central hub for its members.

"It was just good for our needs," incoming chamber president Mary Ann Farmer said. "We've always wanted one, and with the chamber growing, it's perfect. ..."

The Bank of Missouri donated the building to Scott City in early 2013. After almost a year, the chamber worked out a lease with the city to use the building. It will share the space with the Scott City Historical Society. Read more: Southeast Missourian

Dyersvilleville Area Chamber legislative luncheon: 4 state lawmakers: Narrow digital divide in Iowa

Increasing broadband Internet access is among the items at the top of area Iowa lawmakers' legislative agenda.
State Sens. Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, and Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, along with state Reps. Lee Hein, R-Monticello, and Nancy Dunkel, D-Dyersville, on Wednesday discussed key issues leading into the 2015 session of the Iowa General Assembly, which convenes Monday. Their comments came during a legislative luncheon hosted by the Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce. Read more: thonline.com

Chamber event: Constituents, lawmakers weigh in as Kansas opens legislative session

As lawmakers prepare to open the 2015 session of the Kansas Legislature today, Southeast Kansans say they will be watching their elected representatives debate everything from the minimum wage to Medicaid expansion.
Meanwhile, members of the Highway 69 Association from Cherokee, Crawford and Bourbon counties say they will be mindful of transportation funding, which has been used in the past to close gaps in other areas.
Constituents and elected representatives weighed in on these and other issues during a legislative send-off luncheon hosted Friday at Pittsburg State University by the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Read more: Joplin Globe