Friday, May 22, 2015

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce - GO International: Business to Business Mentoring Event; Indiana chamber: 2015 Best Places to Work in Indiana Rankings Announced; Arkansas Chamber priority: Trade Promotion Authority Promotes Job Creation (Randy Zook Commentary); Traverse City Chamber COO Laura Oblinger: Building community takes time — and money; Greater Madison Chamber adds board members; Chamber Best Practices: Ocean Spring (Mississippi) Business After Hours; Smyth County's chamber (Virginia) to host Business and Industry Appreciation Luncheon; Lanita Wilson takes on additional role at Christian County Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Chamber - Creating opportunity: Report Reveals Secrets to Fueling U.S. Entrepreneurial Growth; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey;

Good morning Chamber world! Have a GREAT Memorial Day weekend!

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce - GO International: Business to Business Mentoring Event 

Get the tools, information and guidance you need to successfully do business internationally.
 
June 17, 2015 | 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Jilin Business Center | 150 N. Michigan Ave.
Member Price: $25 | Non-Member Price: $50



In today’s global economy, making international connections and accessing foreign markets is more important than ever. However, this can often be a challenge for small and mid-sized businesses. Instead of struggling alone, why not lean on the advice of a trusted, experienced adviser?
Join us at this event to network with and learn from distinguished experts who will discuss their own experiences dealing with the opportunities and challenges that go with doing business internationally.
Register for this event if you are looking for:
• A fresh perspective, guidance or new ideas involving international expansion
• Assistance in marketing or growing your business globally
• Advice on how to address specific international business challenges
• Customized one-on-one mentoring meetings 


Questions? Contact Alexandra Ongay at 312.494.6771




Indiana chamber: 2015 Best Places to Work in Indiana Rankings Announced

Hoosier companies from throughout the state with stellar workplace practices were recognized tonight at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis. Before a crowd of 1,200, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce unveiled rankings for the 100 companies that made the 2015 Best Places to Work in Indiana list (released in February).
Winners were selected in four categories. Taking top honors:

·         Small companies’ category (between 15 and 74 U.S. employees): E-gineering, a technology consulting firm on the northeast side of Indianapolis

·         Medium companies’ category (between 75 and 249 U.S. employees): Project Lead The Way, Inc., a non-profit education organization headquartered in Indianapolis

·         Large companies’ category (between 250 and 999 U.S. employees): Sikich LLP of Indianapolis, an accounting, advisory, technology and managed services group

·         Major companies’ category (1,000 or more U.S. employees): Edward Jones, an investment firm with 457 branch offices throughout the state
For Sikich this marks the third straight year to finish number one. It’s also a return to the top spot for both Edwards Jones (last time was 2008) and E-gineering (2011).
“These four outstanding companies embody what strong workplaces should look like – they are rooted in respect, teamwork and good communication, and, where possible, promote professional growth,” states Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar.
“All the organizations honored tonight are exemplary employers that foster a positive and productive work environment. They understand that truly valuing employees goes hand-in-hand with the success of the business.” Read more: Indiana Chamber



Trade Promotion Authority Promotes Job Creation (Randy Zook Commentary)


Congress faces an important choice in the months ahead as it considers a bill to renew Trade Promotion Authority. TPA is vital because economic growth and job creation at home depend on our ability to sell American goods and services to the 95 percent of the world’s customers living outside the United States.
Many Americans are already seizing these opportunities. Nationally, one in four manufacturing jobs depends on exports, and one in three acres on American farms is planted for consumers overseas.
Here in Arkansas, trade plays a big role in our economy. Trade supports more than 342,300 jobs in the state. Arkansas’ exports of goods and services reached $10.8 billion in 2013. Large Arkansas employers like Tyson Foods, Nucor Steel, Domtar Paper, Riceland Foods, Baldor Electric Co. and many others are actively engaged in export sales of their products.
Trade is especially important for our state’s small businesses, more than 1,500 of which are exporters. The state’s top export markets are Canada, China and Mexico. Read more: Arkansas Business


Traverse City Chamber COO Laura Oblinger: Building community takes time — and money



The rejection of Proposal 1 by Michigan voters this month left the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and numerous other business organizations that supported the road funding measure wiping a bit of egg off their collective faces. How could seemingly smart business people be so out of touch with Michigan voters?
It’s a fair question. The answer is complex and a bit ominous, both for our region and state. Business organizations don’t take tax increases lightly. They raise the cost of doing business — big and small businesses in Michigan would have incurred increased costs with Proposal 1. Higher taxes also reduce the buying power of consumers, which also impacts the business sector.
Businesses also know that things don’t get built or fixed with empty rhetoric or political points. It takes investment — real money — to build and maintain roads and related infrastructure, to operate and upgrade schools, and to run public utilities.  We’ve seen an example unfold right before our eyes in the amazing evolution of downtown Traverse City. Just a couple short decades ago it stagnated among scores of dying downtown districts scattered across the Midwest. Empty storefronts, plummeting property values, scant new private investment, no residents to speak of — the future looked pretty bleak. Read more: Traverse City Recod-Eagle


Greater Madison Chamber adds board members


Nine new members have been added to the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce's board of directors. They are:
  • Faye Patzner, executive vice president, CUNA Mutual Group
  • Mark Gehring, chief strategy officer, HealthMyne
  • Bryan Chan, president, SupraNet Communications
  • Aaron Olver, managing director, University Research Park
  • Ron Sliwinski, president, UW Hospital and Clinics
  • John Humenik, president and publisher, Wisconsin State Journal; president, Madison Newspapers; and vice president/news, Lee Enterprises
  • Paul Tonneson, president, Fiskars Brands
  • Tory Miller, owner, L'Etoile, Graze, and Sujeo restaurants
  • Al Toon, senior vice president and co-owner, Olson Toon Landscaping
Their inclusion bring the number of board members to 46. Read more: Wisconsin State Journal 



Chamber Best Practices: Ocean Springs (Mississippi) Business After Hours

What is a Chamber Business After Hours?
A Business After Hours is a business/social gathering of Chamber of Commerce members and guests at your business or designated location. By holding a Business After Hours at your business, you are presented with an opportunity to showcase your business and meet new clients and business professionals.
A Business After Hours generally takes place on the third or fourth Thursday of the month from 5– 7 p.m. and is coordinated through the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce.
You must be a current member in good standing (dues are current) with the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce – Main Street – Tourism Bureau in order to hold a Business After Hours.
What happens at the event?
Chamber representative will set up nametags, bowl for business cards and $5 donations, and door prize registration.
Host or an employee asked to assist Chamber Ambassadors and greet guests.
Attendees will be asked to drop a business card in the bowl. Cards can be used for drawings, if items are available*.
During the event, the hosts, Chamber Board members and special guests will be introduced to the attendees.
The hosts will have an opportunity to say a few words about business
Event closes at 7 p.m.
*Drawings are at the discretion of the host business and provided by the host business.  If drawings are part of the event, please notify the Chamber in advance so we may coordinate with you. Read more: Ocean Springs Chamber

Smyth County's chamber (Virginia) to host Business and Industry Appreciation Luncheon



The Chamber of Commerce of Smyth County is joining the statewide celebration of Virginia Business Appreciation Month 2015.
The chamber will host the annual Business and Industry Appreciation Luncheon at Holston Hills Community Golf Course.  The luncheon will be held from 12-1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, and registration is open to all representatives of businesses and industries in Smyth County. Pre-register for this event by Friday, May 22.
The luncheon will serve to celebrate the accomplishments of local businesses and industries, recognizing their leadership and contributions to the community. In addition, the Business and Industry Appreciation Luncheon will feature a special presentation by Mary Rae Carter, the special advisor for rural partnerships for the state’s secretary of commerce and trade. Read more: swvatoday.com


Lanita Wilson takes on additional role at Christian County Chamber of Commerce

Lanita Wilson, director of Workforce, Education and Leadership Development at the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, has taken another title by joining the Kentucky Chamber’s Council on Education and Workforce. The Education and Workforce Council meets quarterly and develops policies to support education at various levels. Read more: Kentucky New Era

 

U.S. Chamber - Creating opportunity: Report Reveals Secrets to Fueling U.S. Entrepreneurial Growth



In case you hadn’t heard, today marks an important day for everyone here at Free Enterprise. That’s because, after a year of research and analysis, a landmark report we’re sponsoring was released to the public: “Innovation That Matters: How City Networks Drive Civic Entrepreneurship.”
Developed by 1776, a D.C.-based global incubator and seed fund, the report dives headfirst into four highly regulated sectors—education, energy, health, and cities—and asks what would happen if entrepreneurial values were applied to each. Apart from partnering with 1776 to produce the report, Free Enterprise has a special interest in this kind of innovative research. Our site is, after all, a platform designed to showcase the men and women entrepreneurs who fuel innovation and drive the U.S. economy forward.
Whether or not you have time right now to peruse the full report—it clocks in at 120 pages—the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blog has a great breakdown of its findings—many of which will most certainly surprise you. So, have a look and stay tuned: Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue to bring you important insights from 1776 and its research team.
You can check out the report breakdown here. Read more: Free Enterprise


Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey



RULE #89      Use planning flip charts for wallpaper

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