Entrepreneur Larry Hines brings experience, low-key approach to chair position with Muskegon Chamber; Indiana Chamber endorses Pence's education plan; Best Chamber Practices: Heber Springs named Volunteer Community of the Year; Jackson County Board Member Jim McIngvale named to MGCCC Board of Trustees; Chamber Award: Fort Atkinson’s Wisconsin Packaging Corp. feted; Barrington-area chamber sends good vibrations at gala; Hundreds Come Out In Support of Fort Eustis Personnel, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Reports; Ryan Craig new face of Logan County Chamber;

Entrepreneur Larry Hines brings experience, low-key approach to chair position with Muskegon Chamber

Larry Hines knows a thing or two about running a successful operation.
Hines, the president and founder of Hines Corporation, a holding company which owns industrial manufacturers in Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota, was recently named board chair of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.
It's a position chamber leadership has wanted him to hold for a long time, but as far as Hines is concerned, he won't have to do much.
"The chamber is a very well-structured and organized chamber," he said. "So in that regard, I don't have to bring much to the party. It's been in place for 123 years so it's a very well-established organization. They've been doing a lot of things that need to be done for a long time." M LIVE

Indiana Chamber endorses Pence's education plan

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce doesn't usually consider endorsing a proposed legislative agenda, focusing instead on individual bills filed by legislators. However, because of the vital role education plays in Indiana's future, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee recently voted to endorse Gov. Mike Pence's education agenda for the 2015 legislative session.
The agenda represents an important step toward increasing the focus of Indiana's K-12 education system on our state's young people and allowing them to prosper through high-performing teachers and schools.
Several of the governor's proposals clearly put Hoosier students first, including raising the base funding per pupil, developing a better approach to turning around failing schools, expanding performance-based funding and lifting the dollar cap for school choice. Read more: IndyStar.com


Best Chamber Practices: Heber Springs named Volunteer Community of the Year

As many times as Heber Springs has been named Volunteer Community of the Year — more than a dozen — it never gets old, said Ina Brown, special projects manager for the Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.
The award was presented by Gov. Asa Hutchinson at a luncheon on Jan. 15, during an Arkansas Municipal League Conference at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
“It’s all so much fun. It was presented by the governor — I shook the governor’s hand twice,” Brown said with a laugh.
She said Heber Springs has received the honor, “15 or 16 times,” but not consecutively. The Arkansas Volunteer Community Awards are sponsored by the Governor’s Office, the Arkansas Municipal League and the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support. Read more: Arkansas Online

Jackson County Board Member Jim McIngvale named to MGCCC Board of Trustees

James W. "Jim" McIngvale, of Pascagoula, has been named to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Board of Trustees.
McIngvale takes the place of retired board member Jim Epting and will represent Jackson County.
Currently the director of Government and Community Affairs at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, McIngvale has worked with the shipbuilder for 38 years.
He began his career in the public relations department of Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding in 1977. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi in 1976, majoring in political science and journalism. Read more: GulfLive

Chamber Award: Fort Atkinson’s Wisconsin Packaging Corp. feted

A company that thinks outside — and inside — the box was recognized Wednesday by the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce.
Gathering at the Fireside Dinner Theatre for its 116th annual dinner meeting Wednesday, the chamber presented its Economic Contribution Award to Wisconsin Packaging Corp. and its president, Fred Negus Jr.
The honor is given to an individual, business or organization that has contributed to, and promoted the objectives of, the chamber in support of the community.
“This award was created in 1973, and is regarded as the chamber’s most prestigious recognition,” said 2015 chamber President Jeff Theder. “Past recipients include some of our largest employers who have positively impacted job creation, and individuals who have had a vision of growing their own companies, as well as our business community, overall.” Read more: Daily Union

Barrington-area chamber sends good vibrations at gala

More than 200 business and community members gathered Thursday night for the second annual Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Gala and Silent Auction.

The theme of the event, held at the Stonegate Conference & Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates, was "good vibrations," which Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Corr said reflected one of the chamber's missions, to give send good vibrations into the local business community.

"One of the most powerful thing the chamber does is it connect people," Corr said.

"Every event is about providing members with the opportunity to make positive business relationships."

The Business Excellence Award went to Norton USA of Barrington. Dennis Kelly of FGMK Insurance won the Volunteer of the Year Award. The chamber's Rookie of the Year Award went to Jason Tennyson of Liberty Mutual. Charlotte Neault of Barrington Bank & Trust, who has served as the chamber's chairman of the board, won the BACC Leadership Award.

A new honor, called the Young Entrepreneur Awards, went to the Barrington High School students who formed a company called FMB Technology as part of their business incubator class. Read more: Daily Herald

Hundreds Come Out In Support of Fort Eustis Personnel, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Reports

The Fort Eustis community listening session held this month drew nearly 330 members from the community, including 80 who viewed live-streaming and business and civic leaders, elected officials, small business owners, association leaders, and educators. Their presence alone sent a message they are concerned about the potential 4,100 personnel cuts that could happen at Fort Eustis as part of the U.S. Armys budget reductions across the country.
Hampton Roads is a pleasant place to live, with a superb quality of life, a moderate cost of living, a temperate climate and arguably the worlds finest ice-free, deep water port year round, said retired Navy Rear Adm. Craig Quigley of the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance. Quigley was among roughly one dozen who addressed the group. It is 200 miles from our nations capital. It has superb academic facilities at every level, and most importantly, a patriotic and dedicated workforce. Not only should the Army consider maintaining the status quo here, this is where reallocated unites should be brought. Thats my message to take back to Army leadership. Read more: ITBusiness.net

Ryan Craig new face of Logan County Chamber

Ryan Craig is the new face of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce. Craig will be replacing long-serving director Lisa Browning, who resigned her position after 24 years with the Chamber, taking a job with the WRUS Radio station.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, its members and the community, and to continue the fine tradition and purpose the Chamber holds,” said Craig.
Craig is the owner and publisher of the Todd County Standard in Elkton. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in both public relations and history. He is a former reporter for the News-Democrat & Leader, as well as a copy desk chief of the Kentucky New Era in Hopkinsville and page one designer for the Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, Tenn. Read more: NewsDemocratLeader.com