Grand Rapids Chamber event: Team Rubicon's co-founder tells West Michigan about the importance of veteran volunteers
Even before he spoke, Marine Sgt. Jake Wood drew a standing ovation Tuesday from hundreds of those in attendance at a Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Wood served two tours in Iraq as an infantry squad leader and sniper scout.
The 6'6" Wood charmed with his self-deprecating humor that downplayed both his college football and military careers.
Despite earning a full athletic scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, Wood said the experience taught him he wasn’t meant for football. Still, the offensive lineman was twice selected to the Academic All-Big Ten football team. Read more: M LIVE
Illinois Chamber Goals Will Be Front and Center
Message From the President - January 12, 2015
Today marks the beginning of the Rauner Administration in Illinois state government. While the first day is mostly ceremonial, we will hear glimmers of what’s ahead as the week
progresses. The Illinois Chamber supported Bruce Rauner in his campaign, and now the
heart of this new era starts beating.
The bottom-line goal that the Chamber is pushing for is fiscal stability in the Land of
Lincoln. The days of overspending must end. We need a balanced budget that addresses the
growth issues that will help Illinois move forward: infrastructure, business-friendly policies,
and a close eye on ballooning programs.
It will be good to have an ally in the Governor’s mansion. Gov. Rauner knows what it’s like
to run a business in Illinois, and we are encouraged that his administration understands our initiatives. Read more: Illinois Chamber
Todd Maisch
President & CEO
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Prince William Chamber Executive Forum: Kaine optimistic about federal budget, managing sequestration effects
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine said he is optimistic that Congress will pass a budget this year that reduces the effects of sequestration while containing the growth of the national debt.
Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, addressed about 50 local business leaders Thursday morning at the Prince William Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Forum, at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville.
Kaine told the audience that when he was first appointed to the Senate Budget Committee, he wasn’t sure he wanted the assignment because, as he said, “why be on a committee that has one job and you’re not doing it?” Read more: InsideNoVA
Mississippi Chamber interest: Senate transportation chair seeks emergency money for roads, bridges
In a move he acknowledges is a long-shot, the chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee is asking legislators to approve $300 million for timely repairs on state highways and bridges and an additional $100 million for locally maintained roads and bridges.
Sen. Willie Simmons, a Cleveland Democrat, wants the money to be part of the state’s general obligation bonding.
His legislation, Senate Bill 2028, is in the Senate Finance Committee.
If allocated, around $40 million of the $300 million would go for replacing posted bridges on the Delta’s Highway 6 between Batesville and Clarksdale.
His bill limits draws on the $300 million for state roads and bridges to $150 million a year and to $50 million a year on the $100 million State Aid portion. Read more: Mississippi Business Journal
International veteran of entrepreneurship visits University of Arkansas-Little Rock campus
A veteran of national and international entrepreneurship programming recently spoke to a group of community leaders in research and innovation at the UALR Bailey Alumni Center about research opportunities in central Arkansas.
Judith Cone, of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill speaks at UALR. Judith Cone, special assistant to the chancellor for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, led a discussion that included participation by UALR research faculty engaged in innovation and commercialization. UALR Chancellor Joel Anderson and Provost Dr. Zulma Toro also attended the presentation.
“Innovation is not a synonym for creativity,” Cone said. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to use our money to better society.” Cone offered a definition of innovation focused on providing creativity, value, and execution. She said universities offered a great place to innovate because of their preponderance of faculty resources and research. Read more: UALR
Buffalo Grove-Lincolnshire chamber honors its best of the year
The Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of
Commerce honored its top directors, businesses and business leaders this
week in the annual awards luncheon.
Held at the Arboretum Club in
Buffalo Grove, the event also served to introduce new Executive Director
Roger Sosa, and bid farewell to the retiring Lynne Schneider, who led
the organization for 25 years.
The 2014 award winners are:
• Director of the Year, Larry Wankovsky:
Wankovsky, of Triple J Ventures, was a major force in the merger
between the Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire chambers; a member since 1995
and on the board since 2003. He has been a chamber Ambassador, has
served on the Golf Outing and Taste of Lincolnshire committees and
volunteered at the Buffalo Grove Days Beer Garden. For the chamber, he
has been a director, vice president, executive vice president and
interim president.
• Member of the Year, Annette Brumby:
Brumby, of Momentous Identity Solutions, joined the chamber only last
year, but has become fully involved in a short time. She has been a
member of the Business Advantage Network and the Marketing and Business
Connection Expo committees, and assisted in the branding of the chamber
with logos and the website. Read more: Daily Herald
Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce announces 2015 board, officers
The Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed new board members and elected officers for 2014.
Scott
Mundell (Franciscan St. Anthony Health) was appointed chairman, William
Kaminsky (Newby, Lewis, Kaminsky & Jones) as chair-elect, Cynthia
Roberts (Purdue University North Central) as secretary and Kevin Mazur
(Crowe Horwath LLP) as treasurer.
New board
members for 2015 are Stephanie Oberlie (Harbour Trust & Investment
Management), Rodney Bensz (B&E Marine), Leif Erickson (Blue Chip
Casino), Charlie Keene (General Insurance Services) and Sean Mitchell
(ServPro of La Porte County). Read more: Michigan City News-Dispatch
The condition of Kentucky's economy depends largely on which political leader happens to offer the prognosis — and maybe which part of the state is being assessed.
A gloomy picture comes from incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who blames the Obama administration for hard times in his home state's eastern coal fields. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, meanwhile, trumpets a statewide economy in recovery, pointing to shrinking unemployment and growing business investments.
In a recent Associated Press interview, McConnell said the Environmental Protection Agency "has created a depression in my state and it's done a lot of damage to the country all across the country with these efforts to essentially eliminate coal-fired generation."
Other factors have staggered Appalachian coal businesses, including higher production costs and competition from other coal basins and sources of energy. U.S. utilities increasingly have switched from coal to natural gas to generate electricity.
Coal-mining employment in eastern Kentucky plunged by more than 7,000 jobs in 2012 and 2013 as production fell by nearly 50 percent, according to industry figures. Other businesses relying on the circulation of coal income were hurt. Employment and production were relatively flat in the past year. Read more: Kentucky.com
U.S. Chamber initiative: Hiring Our Heroes job fair for military veterans, spouses set for Detroit with up to 75 employers
Up to 75 employers, ranging from Quicken Loans and Sears to Verizon Wireless and DTE Energy, will be on a mission Feb. 7 in Detroit to hire as many military veterans and their spouses as they can.
Companies will take part in a Hiring Our Heroes job far that, as of Wednesday afternoon, already had commitments from at least 42 companies ready to fill positions. The employers are expected to have jobs of all ranks and for various levels of experience.
The event, at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, will offer a free employment workshop at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 7 focused on resume writing, interview skills, and job search techniques for all military members and their spouses.
The workshop will then be followed by a job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Dingell VA is located at 4646 John R. in Detroit.
Chamber news: View of Kentucky economy varies among political leaders
The condition of Kentucky's economy depends largely on which political leader happens to offer the prognosis — and maybe which part of the state is being assessed.
A gloomy picture comes from incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who blames the Obama administration for hard times in his home state's eastern coal fields. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, meanwhile, trumpets a statewide economy in recovery, pointing to shrinking unemployment and growing business investments.
In a recent Associated Press interview, McConnell said the Environmental Protection Agency "has created a depression in my state and it's done a lot of damage to the country all across the country with these efforts to essentially eliminate coal-fired generation."
Other factors have staggered Appalachian coal businesses, including higher production costs and competition from other coal basins and sources of energy. U.S. utilities increasingly have switched from coal to natural gas to generate electricity.
Coal-mining employment in eastern Kentucky plunged by more than 7,000 jobs in 2012 and 2013 as production fell by nearly 50 percent, according to industry figures. Other businesses relying on the circulation of coal income were hurt. Employment and production were relatively flat in the past year. Read more: Kentucky.com
Iowa economic development leader gets fifth bonus from state
Iowa’s top economic development
officer has received more than $150,000 in bonuses over the past four
years, with the latest bonus requiring her to stay through June.
Debi Durham has received five $30,700 bonuses since she took over leadership of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in November 2010. The pay pushed Durham’s fiscal 2014 compensation to $185,096. The state-mandated salary range for her position is $100,840 to $154,300.
“Your strengths as director, including a broad knowledge of business and community development, government, marketing and communications, help us to keep our leadership agenda moving forward,” Matt Hinch, Gov. Terry Branstad’s chief of staff, wrote in a June 2 letter approving the bonus.
Hinch’s letter gives Durham credit for Microsoft expanding its West Des Moines data center and WebFilings, an Ames company now called Workiva, adding more employees.
Private companies have guaranteed $9.5 billion in capital investments in Iowa since January 2011, according to an IEDA report. The state has provided firms $411 million in incentives during the same period. Local governments sweeten the pot with local tax breaks and perks. Read more: KCRG.com
Debi Durham has received five $30,700 bonuses since she took over leadership of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) in November 2010. The pay pushed Durham’s fiscal 2014 compensation to $185,096. The state-mandated salary range for her position is $100,840 to $154,300.
“Your strengths as director, including a broad knowledge of business and community development, government, marketing and communications, help us to keep our leadership agenda moving forward,” Matt Hinch, Gov. Terry Branstad’s chief of staff, wrote in a June 2 letter approving the bonus.
Hinch’s letter gives Durham credit for Microsoft expanding its West Des Moines data center and WebFilings, an Ames company now called Workiva, adding more employees.
Private companies have guaranteed $9.5 billion in capital investments in Iowa since January 2011, according to an IEDA report. The state has provided firms $411 million in incentives during the same period. Local governments sweeten the pot with local tax breaks and perks. Read more: KCRG.com
U.S. Chamber initiative: Hiring Our Heroes job fair for military veterans, spouses set for Detroit with up to 75 employers
Up to 75 employers, ranging from Quicken Loans and Sears to Verizon Wireless and DTE Energy, will be on a mission Feb. 7 in Detroit to hire as many military veterans and their spouses as they can.
Companies will take part in a Hiring Our Heroes job far that, as of Wednesday afternoon, already had commitments from at least 42 companies ready to fill positions. The employers are expected to have jobs of all ranks and for various levels of experience.
The event, at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, will offer a free employment workshop at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 7 focused on resume writing, interview skills, and job search techniques for all military members and their spouses.
The workshop will then be followed by a job fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Dingell VA is located at 4646 John R. in Detroit.
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey
RULE
#46 - Never print or post a picture with
a glass… of anything
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