Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: It's a Jungle in There: Inspiring Lessons, Hard-Won Insights, and Other Acts of Entrepreneurial Daring - by Steven Schussler
As a burgeoning businessman in the 1980s, Steven Schussler stopped at nothing to make his dream of a tropical-themed restaurant come true, even turning his home into a rainforest, complete with indoor waterfall, life-size replica of an elephant and 40 tropical birds, in order to have a prototype to show potential investors. Drawing from his own life and business triumphs, Schussler offers would-be entrepreneurs a new way of utilizing creativity to achieve their dreams. He distills his principles for entrepreneurs on a budget and also reveals the ways in which his lessons, from self-branding to developing strategic partnerships to giving recognition where recognition is due, can work in larger corporations. Just like his famous themed restaurants, Schussler's insights provide entertainment, education and ample food for thought for all business people aspiring to their next level of success. Read more: Barnes & Noble
Kentucky Chamber urging members and public to weigh in on important issues in final days of session
The Kentucky Chamber is hard at work at the Capitol on your behalf, but we need you to help us with an extra push on four items below. Please choose at least one issue below and leave your legislators an urgent message. Time is running out. Legislators need to hear from you today!
Stop Workers’ Compensation Premium Increases
Some lawmakers in Frankfort are trying to sneak through changes to workers’ compensation that will mean big premium increases for employers by doubling the pay of lawyers in the workers’ comp system and giving their labor union friends a huge victory by adding more costs to the carefully crafted benefit scale. What’s worse is the fact that they’ve attached this secret premium increase to a bill designed to help church pastors! We need your urgent help to stop this backdoor tax increase on employers. Call 1-800-372-7181 today and urge your legislators to VOTE NO ON HOUSE BILL 206! You may also send them an email by clicking here.
Support Road Funding and Jobs - Read more: Kentucky Chamber Blog
La Crosse Tribune editor to become Black River Area chamber director
Chris Hardie, executive editor of the La Crosse Tribune and publisher of the River Valley Newspaper Group weekly division, will leave the newspaper business to become the executive director of the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce.
Hardie will begin his new position in the middle of March.
“It certainly is with mixed emotions that I will be leaving,” Hardie said. “I have worked with some of the finest journalists and co-workers for more than 30 years. But this was an opportunity to work much closer to home and try my hand at a new challenge.”
Hardie lives in rural Jackson County, where he and his wife Sherry own and operate Brambleberry Bed and Breakfast and Brambleberry Winery, established in his great-grandparents’ homestead farmhouse. The Hardies also raise purebred sheep and Scottish Highland cattle. They have two children and two grandchildren.
“For more than 30 years, Chris has brought great passion, journalistic integrity, an amazing work ethic and a love of this region to everything he does,” Publisher Rusty Cunningham said. “He has been a marvelous model for young journalists and a terrific colleague for all of us.” Read more: LaCrosse Tribune
Michigan Chamber Issues Statement on May 5th Ballot Proposal
The
Michigan Chamber of Commerce today issued the following statement by
Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley regarding Proposal 1:
“Over the past two months, the Michigan Chamber has
gathered information from a wide range of sources and actively sought
input from the Chamber’s membership regarding the May 5th ballot
proposal. Today, the Chamber concluded a comprehensive review of
Proposal 1 and related legislation.”
“First, we want to emphasize that Michigan Chamber members
and staff are very supportive of Governor Rick Snyder. We appreciate
the Administration’s many accomplishments and commend the Governor for
his leadership in the effort to fix the roads.”
“Second, after careful consideration, the Michigan Chamber
has concluded there is not a consensus within our membership to either
support or oppose the May 5th ballot proposal. Therefore, the Michigan
Chamber will not take a position for or against Proposal 1. Between now
and May 5, the Chamber will focus our efforts on educating and informing
Chamber members about the proposal.” Source: Michigan Chamber
Suburban Chicago Multi-chamber Luncheon/Expo - 500 attended last year
A note from Luanne Newman, Carol Stream Chamber Executive Director
Good afternoon, Chamber Friends --
It may seem early to you (it does to me), but before we know it, the March 26th Spring Multi-Chamber Luncheon -- known as the Bobak's Luncheon -- will be upon us. Because of the scope of this event, the 17 chambers need to start early and are only allotted a certain number of seats. When it's all said and done, there should be over 500 in attendance. I've heard this speaker and he was very enjoyable. There is an expo as well as the luncheon.
So, please sign up early if you want to attend -- they cut us off after a certain point and I would like to accommodate all who wish to attend.
It may seem early to you (it does to me), but before we know it, the March 26th Spring Multi-Chamber Luncheon -- known as the Bobak's Luncheon -- will be upon us. Because of the scope of this event, the 17 chambers need to start early and are only allotted a certain number of seats. When it's all said and done, there should be over 500 in attendance. I've heard this speaker and he was very enjoyable. There is an expo as well as the luncheon.
So, please sign up early if you want to attend -- they cut us off after a certain point and I would like to accommodate all who wish to attend.
18 Participating Chambers - Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Chamber 630, Darien, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Hinsdale, Lemont, Lisle, Lombard, Villa Park, West Suburban, Western DuPage, Westmont, Wheaton $35/Members - $50/Non-Members Register Online Multi-chamber Luncheon-3/26/15- Bobak's in Woodridge, IL
Virginia Secretary of Trade and Commerce to Keynote Greater McLean Chamber Gala
The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce announced that Maurice A. Jones, Virginia Secretary of Trade and Commerce, will keynote its Winter Gala and Board Installation on March 12, 2015 at the Gannett Conference Center (7959 Jones Branch Drive, McLean).
#“Mr.
Jones brings deep knowledge related to conducting business in the
Virginia area. His expertise spans numerous industries, and we are very
anxious to have him share his insights with guests at our Winter Gala
and Board Installation," said Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce
President Marcia Twomey.
#Mr.
Jones was appointed Secretary of Commerce and Trade by Governor Terry
McAuliffe in January 2014. Previously, Mr. Jones served as Deputy
Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In
this capacity, he managed the Department's day-to-day operations, the
annual operating budget, and the agency's 8,900 employees.Read more: Connection Newspapers
Indy chamber maps out export plan
The Indianapolis area could see exports rise if a plan released Feb. 21 succeeds.
Local companies need further investment in export infrastructure and help in learning how to export, according to an Indy Chamber survey. The area also needs rebranding as an international export hub, it said.
Indianapolis was among nine metro areas taking part in an export push by The Brookings Institution think tank and financial giant JPMorgan Chase. Read more: Indianapolis Business Journal
State Chamber challenge: Declining Federal Highway Funds Hurt Mississippi
As Mississippi leaders study ways to deal with the state's crumbling highways and bridges, declining federal funds aren't helping the situation.
#The
Federal Highway Trust Fund allotted $1.4 billion to Mississippi in
2013. After adjusting for inflation, that's 3 percent less than in 2008,
though it's 10 percent more than 10 years ago. The money comes from
federal fuel taxes, and the share that flows to the state Department of
Transportation makes up almost half the current $1.1 billion budget.
Other money flows to local road planning groups and transit operators.
#Figures
compiled by The Associated Press show the total amount of road money
available to states from the fund has declined 3.5 percent during the
five-year period ending in 2013, the latest year for which numbers were
available. During that span, the amount of inflation-adjusted federal
highway money dropped in all states except Alaska and New York.
#Mississippi's
share of Federal Highway Trust Fund went from $354 per capita in 2003,
to $456 in 2008 but moved up more slowly to $472 in 2013. Though other
states have fared worse, Mississippi's rate of increase in that final
five-year period is in the lower half of states.
#The
pinch comes as highways age that were built in the great burst of
construction following Mississippi's passage of it 1987 four-lane
highway program. The state's three transportation commissioners and
others have been sounding alarms for several years.
#"We
continue to do the best job that we can in managing the demise of our
transportation system," said Central District Commissioner Dick Hall,
maybe the most outspoken in favor of more money.
#The
Mississippi Economic Council has formed a group to study transportation
conditions, outline priorities, and figure out how to pay for them. Read more: Jackson Free Press
Chamber interest: Merger Match Brings on Ken Clark as 'Chief Storyteller'
Little Rock startup Merger Match has partnered with Little Rock entrepreneur Ken Clark, who will take on the role of "chief storyteller," the firm announced Monday.
Clark will consult with co-founders Bridget Farris and Alese Stroud and lead the development of strategic relationships for Merger Match's proprietary corporate acquisitions assessment tool.
Merger Match is a product of the Arkansas Venture Center's Pre-Flight program that aims to fast track early-stage ideas and ventures to market. It graduated its first class in December and started its second last month.
Last month, Merger Match presented at 1 Million Cups Little Rock, at which Farris and Stroud told the story of their propietary tool that assesses possible acquisitions and sets appropriate acquisition targets, both for companies with an eye on expansion and those looking to sell. Read more: Arkansas Business
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations (Attitude)
“I will always find a way and a way will always find me.”
― Charles F. Glassman, Brain Drain The Breakthrough That Will Change Your Life
― Charles F. Glassman, Brain Drain The Breakthrough That Will Change Your Life
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.