Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: The Customer Service Revolution: Overthrow Conventional Business, Inspire Employees, and Change the World; Columbus, Indiana chamber testimonial: It’s nice to know you have someone in your corner; Chamber news: Site Selection magazine awards Kentucky the Governor’s Cup for most business projects per capita; Chamber partnership: Second Annual Northern Virginia Restaurant Week to Be Held March 23-30, 2015; Best Chamber Practices: Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce creation:Resources for Students; Chamber issue: Bridges deteriorate as lawmakers seek temporary fix; Jonesboro Regional Chamber interest: Hotel complex in works at Arkansas State University; Saline Chamber announces the recipients of the prestigious Saline Salutes Citizen Awards; Chamber Lunch: Argiris, Helmer talk business in Wheeling, Prospect Heights; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Promotion)

Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: The Customer Service Revolution: Overthrow Conventional Business, Inspire Employees, and Change the World
 

By John Dijulius




In "The Customer Service Revolution," DiJulius points out how numerous companies have made Customer service their biggest competitive advantage, are dominating their industries, and have made price irrelevant. As a result of this Customer service revolution, people are being treated differently, better, and in a way like never before. This is a result of how companies and management are treating their employees and how employees are treating each other and the Customer--which ultimately permeates into people's personal lives at home and in their communities. Can the way you run your business or treat your Customers have an effect on the world at large? John DiJulius will show you just that
Drawing on years of experience consulting with the top customer service companies around the world and in his role building his first business, John Robert's Spa, into one of the top 20 salons in the US, DiJulius will show you exactly how to create your very own Customer service revolution and make price irrelevant.




Columbus, Indiana chamber testimonial: 

It’s nice to know you have someone in your corner

At the Chamber, my husband and I were able to get help with our business plan. We participated in training and networking. I believe that everyone at the Chamber - the members and staff - truly care about my business’s success.
Beth Miller, YoMaMa Frozen Yogurt



Chamber news: Site Selection magazine awards Kentucky the Governor’s Cup for most business projects per capita


Last year, Kentucky announced more than 350 new location and expansion projects, which are projected to create nearly 15,000 jobs and more than $3.7 billion in new investment. That is the most business investment in Kentucky since the state started recording investment data nearly 30 years ago.
This focus on economic development is putting the Commonwealth in the national spotlight. On March 3, Gov. Steve Beshear announced that Site Selection Magazine has placed Kentucky first nationally in the publication’s annual Governor’s Cup rankings for new and expanded industry activity per capita in 2014.
Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Dave Adkisson joined Gov. Steve Beshear, Hal Goode, president of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development, and Greg Higdon, president and CEO of the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers during the news conference announcing the award.
“Winning the prestigious Governor’s Cup is a true honor,” said Gov. Beshear. “Kentucky works extremely hard to build and maintain relationships with our companies, and we go the extra mile to support their plans for growth. The Governor’s Cup speaks to the dedication of everyone in this state who’s working to build Kentucky’s economy, grow jobs and create success for our industries, our communities and all Kentuckians.” kycvhamberblog.com



Chamber partnership: Second Annual Northern Virginia Restaurant Week to Be Held March 23-30, 2015


The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) is partnering with Virginia Hospitality & Travel Association (VHTA) to produce 2015 Northern Virginia Restaurant Week, the biggest celebration of dining out in Northern Virginia. The 2nd Annual Northern Virginia Restaurant Week, being held from March 23-30, 2015, is a week-long, value priced dining experience taking place at a variety of establishments, ranging from fine dining to fast casual.
The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce believes VHTA’s dedication to providing a unified voice to restaurants, lodging, travel and hospitality suppliers’ throughout the Commonwealth will help encourage more restaurants and hotels to see the value in participating in Northern Virginia Restaurant Week.
“We are happy to partner with the Reston Chamber on this event,” said Eric Terry, President of Virginia Hospitality Travel Association. “Northern Virginia Restaurant Week gives our members in this area an opportunity to showcase their cuisine and capture new customers.”

Read more at; Virtual Strategy

Best Chamber Practices: Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce creation:Resources for Students 

Wisconsin is a great place to live and work. Bordering two of the Great Lakes, Wisconsin’s key economic sectors include manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) is the statewide chamber of commerce, state manufacturers’ association and the state safety council. Representing the interests of nearly 3,800 businesses throughout the state, WMC’s mission is to make Wisconsin the most competitive state in which to do business. It’s our job to make sure the elected officials understand how any proposed laws will affect the businesses in Wisconsin.

Greetings from Wisconsin


Student Resources Packet

View this brochure to read more about Wisconsin. To receive a Student Resources Packet via mail, contact Mary Anderson, 608.258.3400.

Chamber issue: Bridges deteriorate as lawmakers seek temporary fix

An updated report shows Mississippi's bridges continue to deteriorate as lawmakers work on "stop-gap" funding to fix the worst of them.
But the stop-gap measure faces political and pragmatic problems, as it would strip money long earmarked for road projects in Mississippi counties with casinos. And while transportation officials continue to call for a gasoline tax increase or other permanent funding solution, there's no appetite in the state Legislature for such a move this election year.
Of Mississippi's 17,091 bridges, 2,275 – or 13 percent – are rated "structurally deficient," meaning they have significant defects and are prone to safety issues that could endanger motorists. Another 1,290 are rated "functionally obsolete," or not suitable for their current use. The report says the state saw an increase of one structurally deficient bridge from 2013-2014.
The report comes as no surprise to state transportation officials, who say Mississippi would have to come up with at least $550 million to rebuild or repair all the bridges that need work. Read more: Clarion-Ledger


Jonesboro Regional Chamber interest: Hotel complex in works at Arkansas State University


Arkansas State University is working to finalize a lease agreement that would allow for the development of a $35 million to $45 million on-campus hotel and convention center.
O'Reilly Hospitality of Springfield, Mo., once the deal is finalized, will finance the project. Arkansas State has selected 11.6 acres between Red Wolf Boulevard (U.S. 49) and Olympic Drive as the site of the development, which will have an estimated 200 rooms and 40,000 to 50,000 square feet of conference center space. A restaurant also is part of the proposal and construction is scheduled to begin "during the second half of the year," the school said.
"We are looking to monetize assets and we have land," said ShawnieCarrier, chief of staff for Chancellor Tim Hudson and interim director of the Delta Center for Economic Development. "This was an opportunity to partner with the city and make the dream of a convention center and hotel come true. We need a hotel and convention center."
O'Reilly Hospitality has hotel and convention center projects in Nebraska, Arizona, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Montana. CEO Tim O'Reilly is currently working with Hilton to finalize an Embassy Suites franchise and a Houlihan's restaurant for the Jonesboro property.
"We're excited about partnering with Arkansas State and the city of Jonesboro to develop a modern, full-service hotel and meeting space in northeast Arkansas," O'Reilly said in a statement. "Ultimately this development will have a substantial positive impact on the region and make Jonesboro competitive to attract dozens of state and regional events."
Arkansas State and O'Reilly will work together on the development of a hospitality management program at the school.
Carrier cited Arkansas State athletics, conferences currently held on campus and the hospitality management program among the reasons the project makes sense on campus. HVS Consulting and Valuation Services is finalizing a feasibility study and will attempt to establish an economic impact for the development, the first of its kind in Northeast Arkansas.
Jonesboro has about 1,200 hotel rooms, according to the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce. It is the state's 5th largest city with more than 70,000 residents. Read more: Arkansas Online

Saline Chamber announces the recipients of the prestigious Saline Salutes Citizen Awards

The Saline Chamber is pleased to announce the recipients of the prestigious Saline Salutes Citizen Awards for 2015. The honorees were selected by a blue- ribbon panel of community leaders assembled by the Chamber. Receiving a Saline
Salutes Citizen Award represents the most widely-respected recognition of the volunteer efforts of individuals living or working in the Saline area each year. The recipients are: Dave Eberlein, Citizen of the Year; John Olsen, George A. Anderson Vision Award; and Emily Diehl, Youth of the Year.Read more: M Live



Chamber Lunch: Argiris, Helmer talk business in Wheeling, Prospect Heights



The mayors of Prospect Heights and Wheeling are number guys.
Looking back on 2014, the two packed their respective state of the city and village addresses Wednesday with loads of figures -- most in dollars and cents.
"I base our success on numbers," Wheeling Village President Dean Argiris told about 150 people at a lunch hosted by the Wheeling/Prospect Heights Chamber of Commerce.
So to capture what he called an improving business climate in town, Argiris crunched the numbers:
• In 2014, Wheeling issued 1,599 building permits representing $40.4 million worth of construction projects, an increase of more than $4 million from the last year.
• Vacancies in the village's 14 million square feet of industrial space stand at just under 6 percent.
• Retail sales totaled more than $558 million, up more than 12 percent from the prior year. Read more: Daily Herald

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Promotion)

Many a small thing was made large by the right kind of advertising.

Mark Twain


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