Paducah Chamber Grows to Record Membership of 1,060 members; Jeff Rea, president and CEO of the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce: Ways to grow state's firms; Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley and Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein will be joining the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce as the guest speakers for the Dearborn Area Chamber’s upcoming Business Builder Series, as a part of the 2015 Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals (MACP) Annual Convention; Job-promoting partnerships lauded at Charlottesville chamber summit; Princeton Chamber hosts Illinois director of tourism; The eighth annual Lodi and Lake Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Brew-B-Que: Bring on the barbecue; Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber Community Fund: Walking trails project will provide new experience for visitors, residents; Non-Dues Revenue: Town Square Gloss Chamber Directories in Multi-media Format

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


Paducah Chamber Grows to Record Membership of 1,060 members


The results for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership campaign includes a record total reaching 1,060 members, a net gain of 20 members over 2014.

This makes the Paducah Area Chamber the fifth largest Chamber in Kentucky, behind Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Lexington, and around 100 businesses less than Bowling Green.

The campaign exceeded its goal and recruited 142 new members during the four-week campaign.

"This has been a busy time for the Chamber with our recent trip to DC, to our local seminars and events, to having this campaign underway,” said Bruce Wilcox, chair-elect of the Paducah Chamber and president of Petter Supply. “Our new members range from Fluff Cupcakes to several new businesses under construction such as IMAC Regeneration Center, Chin Restaurant and Vertical Jump Park to some established businesses who have not been a member and have now decided to join.”         

The top producer for the volunteers for the campaign was Janice Cleary with Paducah Bank. Second place individual award went to David Morse with KeeFORCE; third place was Jill Harper with Capstone HR; fourth place was Jessica Newman with Advantage Insurance; and fifth place was Tony Copeland with Arkema. Read more: Western Kentucky News

Jeff Rea, president and CEO of the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce: Ways to grow state's firms

Business leaders recognize that for their own business to grow, several things need to happen. They need to find new customers and they need to retain and grow existing customers.

Some will get lucky and new customers will randomly find them. Others will need to be found. Businesses will carefully craft a strategy to reach out to potential customers and make sure customers know of the unique offerings of their business. In the end, they hope new customers choose them, instead of the competition.

Economic development in our region and state is similar. Our communities need to attract new businesses and at the same time retain and grow existing businesses. Some of those new businesses will find us; we need to go find others.

Gov. Mike Pence is leading an Indiana delegation of business and community leaders on a visit of Japan this week. The governor’s mission: to make sure Japanese businesses know about opportunities in Indiana. The governor and his delegation are seeking to bring new “customers” home to Indiana.

Over the past two years, similar trips have been made across the United States and to foreign countries such as Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Israel and China. In all, more than $2 million was raised from private contributions to help finance trips.

Those trips netted new projects for Indiana including three German companies that have announced Indiana expansions. In addition, agricultural processor Tate & Lyle announced a $90 million Indiana expansion during Pence’s trip to the United Kingdom in 2014 and an additional $65 million expansion in March. Read more: South Bend Tribune

Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley and Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein will be joining the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce as the guest speakers for the Dearborn Area Chamber’s upcoming Business Builder Series, as a part of the 2015 Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals (MACP) Annual Convention. 

Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley and Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein will be joining the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce as the guest speakers for the Dearborn Area Chamber’s upcoming Business Builder Series, as a part of the 2015 Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals (MACP) Annual Convention. The breakfast, sponsored by Beaumont Health, will take place on Thursday, October 29, 2015, beginning at 7:30 am at Dearborn Inn, located at 20301 Oakwood in Dearborn.

Calley and Bernstein are the fourth speakers for the Chamber’s 2015 Business Builder Series, a Chamber program designed to help local businesses and community leaders grow and enhance their organizational goals. Speakers this year have included the mayors of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, a prestigious panel of area executives joining in a U.S. Chamber sponsored discussion of women in business leadership, and John Fleming of Ford Motor Company.

“We are delighted to welcome Lt. Governor Calley and Justice Bernstein to our area, especially as the host of the highly anticipated Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals Annual Convention,” commented Jackie Lovejoy, President of the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce. “2015 marks the 50^th anniversary of the MACP, and as a result we are looking forward to hosting various industry leaders from all over the State of Michigan for this historic and important event this fall.”

The event is open to the public and will include a delicious breakfast and networking, to be followed by the guest speakers and an opportunity for questions from the audience. Breakfast is sponsored by DTE Energy.

Registration is required for this event. Early bird pricing is only $30 for members of the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, and $45 for potential members and the general public. To register and for more information, please visit the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce online at www.DearbornAreaChamber.org or by phone at 313-584-6100. For more information on the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals, visit www.michamberconnect.com.

Job-promoting partnerships lauded at Charlottesville chamber summit

Community members talked about what is working in workforce development on Wednesday at the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Jobs Action Summit.

The 2015 Chamber Jobs Report and Orange Dot Report were presented at the summit, along with other presentations from community members on current employment efforts in the area.

Presenter Don Gathers, the front-desk supervisor at the Graduate Hotel Charlottesville, completed the city’s GO Office program, a six-week training program that prepares city residents for a career in office administration with one of the program’s partner employers. The city has completed three types of Growing Opportunity programs, GO Driver, GO Office and GO Electric.

“The most gratifying piece of this wonderful puzzle is that the GO Office program has given me the chance to reach back and help others by being able to offer others employment opportunities,” Gathers said. Read more: Daily Progress

Princeton Chamber hosts Illinois director of tourism

 Cory Jobe, director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, spoke at the Princeton Chamber of Commerce quarterly luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at The Barn at Hornbaker Gardens.

Jobe talked about the importance of tourism and the economic benefits it brings to local communities.

“Tourism supports business growth and job creation. Viable tourism areas provide places for entrepreneurs to succeed, increasing the viability and vitality of a commercial area,” he said. “This, in turn, supports economic growth through the community.”

Jobe announced in 2014, Illinois attracted more than 107 million visitors, which was a 3.8 percent increase from 2013. These visitors spent around $36 billion in the state, Jobe said.

This past year, the state has started to reach out to a younger traveler. Jobe said millennials are growing steadily in power and quickly becoming a target audience for tourism. Jobe’s office came up with the perfect medium to reach this group, which was through the social media website, Instagram. Read more: BCRNEWS.com

The eighth annual Lodi and Lake Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Brew-B-Que: Bring on the barbecue

What do you get when succulent smoked ribs, delicious craft beer and great live music are combined?

The eighth annual Lodi and Lake Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Brew-B-Que of course.

“It's a backyard barbecue turned into a block party,” event co-chair Jason Rasmussen says. “We shut down Main Street and it allows everybody from town, and the surrounding areas, to get together.”

Area grill masters will compete to win the judges’ or people’s choice awards at this year’s event and take home a plaque commemorating their rib making prowess along with cash prizes.

Only those with VIP tickets will have the opportunity to sample ribs and place their vote for best in show. VIP tickets are still on sale for $40 and include the cost of sampling and voting in the homemade chili and home brewing competition. They can be purchased prior to or on the day of the event.

So basically, if you are getting a VIP ticket, expect to leave the event with a full belly and a smile on your face. Read more: HNGnews.com

Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber Community Fund: Walking trails project will provide new experience for visitors, residents

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday took another step toward making Vicksburg a desired location for visitors by approving an agreement with the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce Community Fund and the National Park Service for a $25,000 Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative grant to develop five walking trails in the downtown and historic districts.

“This grant agreement is to develop a series of five walking trails to traverse the downtown area, the historic districts and downtown neighborhoods,” said Bill Justice, Vicksburg National Military Park superintendent. “The trust project will benefit local residents, as it will provide health and fitness opportunities while at same time providing heritage walking tours that cover Vicksburg’s rich and diverse architecture and history.”

When completed, the walking trails will start from the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Depot on Levee Street and allow visitors to tour the city on foot, providing an opportunity to get a look at the city’s unique architecture and historic buildings they could never get by cruising the city in a car or tour bus.

Downtown’s varied terrain of hills and dips can provide local walkers with a good workout.

- See more at: Vicksburg Post

Non-Dues Revenue: Town Square Gloss Chamber Directories in Multi-media Format

Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, with over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest, allows Town Square Publications to offer you attractive royalty and non-dues revenue share streams, provide direct distribution of your custom designed printed publications, including digital and mobile integration, and all with the quickest turn-around times available in the industry. Town Square also offers multi-media maps in both print and online formats, both with our No-Cost guarantee. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, contact John Dussman directly at the Town Square offices at 847-427-4633. Mailing Address: 155 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Email address: jdussman@tspubs.com 

Three regional chambers collaboration: Where Opportunity Knox has helped 1,445 veterans find employment opportunities; Virginia Peninsula Chamber event: "We have a zero unemployment rate in cyber right now..." Fox Cities Chamber event: Octoberfest packs downtown Appleton; Chamber assistance: Ocean Springs' Feast of Flavors festival a treat for the senses; Troy Chamber of Commerce president honored; Western DuPage Chamber executive returns to her roots;

Three regional chambers collaboration: Where Opportunity Knox has helped 1,445 veterans find employment opportunities

Where Opportunity Knox, a regional initiative with the goal to connect 10,000 transitioning veterans and/or military spouses to jobs in the Greater Louisville Region by the end of 2017, announced today that 1,445 veterans have been connected to employment opportunities in the first year of the program.

One year ago Kentucky Indiana Exchange (KIX), managed by three regional chambers of commerce including Greater Louisville Inc., the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce and One Southern Indiana, launched the initiative. More than 130 participating employers have signed up to support the initiative.

“One of the advantages of hiring veterans is the key assets they bring to the table, especially soft skills,” said Shana Seng of Monument Chemical Kentucky in Brandenburg, one of Where Opportunity Knox’s newest employer partners. “We chose to participate in Where Opportunity Knox to gain further awareness of veteran skill sets, better understand how it transfers into our organization and increase our veteran outreach and hiring.”

In addition, more than 30 Veteran Network Builders—business professionals who have volunteered to help Veterans build their civilian networks—have been recruited and more than 100 human resource professionals have attended Where Opportunity Knox’s quarterly briefings and tours at Fort Knox.

Virginia Peninsula Chamber event: "We have a zero unemployment rate in cyber right now..."

People, businesses, research and support from Hampton Roads helped make history this summer when an unmanned aerial system was used to deliver medicine to a clinic in rural Wise County in southwest Virginia.

But unfortunately, positive advancements in technology, cybersecurity and unmanned aerial systems, which are commonly known as drones, are often lost in the headlines - if those things make the news at all.

Karen Jackson, Virginia's secretary of technology, challenged attendees at a Peninsula Executive Leadership Forum to help reshape the narrative at all levels about technology and cyber issues. The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and Thomas Nelson Community College collaborate to produce the forums.

The FAA-sanctioned Wise County drone delivery event was the first in the nation, and "we got ahead of Amazon," said Jackson, who added that Gov. Terry McAuliffe is completely on board with advancing all aspects of unmanned aerial systems in Virginia. "He's also made the comment that he wants a drone in every home, but he wants it stamped with 'manufactured in Virginia,'" Jackson quipped. Read more: Inside Business

Fox Cities Chamber event: Octoberfest packs downtown Appleton

Appleton’s biggest block party arrived Saturday morning.

The 34th annual Octoberfest celebration ran until 6 p.m. An estimated 100,000 people made their way downtown throughout the day, enjoying live music, food, beverages and family activities.

A sea of people

The day had all the makings for a record-setting Octoberfest.

By mid-afternoon, College Avenue was flooded with people taking in the festivities. Joy Sams, chairwoman of the Octoberfest committee, said early indications had her believing the festival would be seeing record numbers for the fourth straight year.

“I hope the not-for-profit vendors feel the same way. That’s really our may concern, how they’re doing,” she said.

“I’ve had to put my golf cart away at about 10 a.m. in previous years. I’d say it was about 9:30 this year. I was not able to get even across the Avenue, from one sideof the street to the other.” 

Chamber assistance: Ocean Springs' Feast of Flavors festival a treat for the senses

The sights, smells and, most importantly, the tastes available at the annual Feast of Flavors festival in Ocean Springs provide an array of delights for those attending.

Hundreds turned out for Saturday's event, which featured not only the local growers who come out every Saturday for the Ocean Springs Fresh Market, but additional vendors who provide samples of foods grown or produced locally.

"It's been wonderful," said Diane Cloughton, who founded the Fresh Market in 2004. "We do these festivals to promote the Fresh Market, but also to promote the chamber of commerce and the city of Ocean Springs. Without the help of the chamber, without the help of the city, we couldn't do these things."

Among the food offerings available for patrons to sample were hot tamales, homemade BBQ sauces and rubs, pimento cheese quesadillas prepared by Chef Danie, and sauteed shitake mushrooms.

Additionally, demonstrations were held throughout the day featuring Chef Alex Perry and his wife, Kumi Omori of Vestige restaurant, Jim DelPrince, a horticulture specialist from Mississippi State University, and pumpkin carving by artist Tracy Williams.

Festival-goers seemed more than pleased. Read more: GulfLive.com

Troy Chamber of Commerce president honored

Troy Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Ara Toupouzian was among the businesses and individuals honored with a Corp! Magazine Michigan Salute to Diversity Award Sept. 10 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Detroit.

According to its website, “Corp! is a print and online business-to-business publication that features success stories, best practices and strategies that CEOs, business owners, executives and managers will find useful and relevant.”

“Corp! honors businesses and business leaders who have displayed significant achievements in diversity within their organizations or in the community,” states its website.

“We are diverse in what we are offering,” Toupouzian said. “We’ve got diversity in our membership. Whatever we plan, we plan with that in mind. I think we do a lot of good work here. I look at it as recognition for the chamber. As the only chamber person that won, it speaks volumes to the work that we do.” Read more: C and G Newspapers

Western DuPage Chamber executive returns to her roots

Patricia Haskins, executive vice president of the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce, is going full circle.

The native of Southern Illinois has worked more than a dozen years as a suburban chamber executive, and now she is packing up to return to southern Illinois after her retirement last week. I never dreamed I would ever move to the Chicago suburbs," she said.

Haskins was born in Mt. Carmel and raised in nearby Bellmont, both in southern Illinois. She came to the Chicago area in 1985.

After she graduated from Eastern Illinois University, she was a schoolteacher, Youth for Christ leader and then took time off to raise her son, David, who is now an artist and has his "SkyCube" art at the Elmhurst Art Museum. She also has a daughter, Elizabeth, and son-in-law, Sandy, who have five children. Haskins also spent time working as a church secretary, receptionist and an account manager.

Then she decided in 2003 to accept the position of president and CEO of the Warrenville Chamber of Commerce, a job she felt was an accomplishment in itself.

"I feel my greatest accomplishment was going into a field that I knew nothing about and making it a successful chamber for 8 years," Haskins said. Read more: Daily Herald

Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Maps 

Chambers of Commerce and member focused organizations serve as a valuable resource in the local marketplace. The networking opportunities and representation with a wide variety of diverse businesses in your community is the catalyst of a successful organization. For further information about Town Square's publishing partnership with chambers of commerce and our No-Cost guarantee and Earned Revenue Share Program, contact John Dussman directly at the Town Square offices at 847-427-4633. Mailing Address: 155 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Email address: jdussman@tspubs.com 

Chamber issue: Sheboygan's labor shortage takes center stage; 2015 Kentucky Workforce Summit: Solutions for Economic Competitiveness; Chamber idea: Tours help Ocean Springs business owners get to know one another; Bartlett, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Western DuPage Chambers to host business Expo; Tickets Now on Sale for Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber’s New Event-Flashback! Fairfax Chamber to Host Panel of 2015 Greater Washington Innovation Awards Finalists and Winners; Chamber Best Practices: Indiana Chamber Executives Assn. Testimonials; Town Square Publications produces local chamber and county maps across the United States - Let us help you next!

Happy Friday, Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!

Chamber issue: Sheboygan's labor shortage takes center stage

Workforce development took center stage at the Blue Harbor Resort Tuesday, Sept. 22, as local leaders met to continue a push for solutions to attract, retain and develop more skilled workers in Sheboygan County.

The first-ever Workforce Development Executive Summit, organized by the Sheboygan County Chamber, brought together about 200 community leaders representing area companies, schools and government for a discussion on the area's ongoing worker shortage.

The summit was held as the county continues seeing low unemployment and a high number of jobs that continue to go unfilled each month.

Dane Checolinski, director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp., said the issue has become significant enough in recent years that it's altered his organization's mission, where they now emphasize workforce recruitment alongside more traditional economic development activities.

"The conversation changed with companies, which started saying, 'I have access to capital, I have orders, but I have no one to run this machine,'" Checolinski said during a panel discussion. "It actually got to the point where companies were telling us that without people, they're not expanding here." Read more: Sheboygan Press

2015 Kentucky Workforce Summit: Solutions for Economic Competitiveness

CEO of Siemens Foundation to discuss workforce

	David D. Etzwiler CEO, Siemens Foundation

What is the Kentucky Workforce Summit?

Creating a highly skilled workforce requires strong public programs and leadership from the private sector.  The 2015 Kentucky Workforce Summit: Solutions for Economic Competitiveness will focus on what is happening right now in Kentucky — and what needs to happen going forward — to ensure the quality of the state’s workforce and improve the state’s economic position at home and around the globe.

An Informative Session You Won't Want to Miss!

The Workforce Equation: Supply and Demand
David D. Etzwiler, CEO, Siemens Foundation

Successful workforce programs are designed to supply the skills that job seekers need to meet employers' needs. This session will look at today's workforce landscape regarding supply, demand, trends and continuing needs to assess where we are now and how we get to where we want to be.

Register now and don't miss this exciting, valuable session! Click here to view the rest of the agenda.

Pricing

$299/Kentucky Chamber Member
$399/Non-member
$149 Government/Non-Profit Rate. Call Lori Jo Hill at 502-848-8727 to take advantage of this discount.

October 19, 2015  |  Hyatt Regency Lexington | Lexington, Ky.

Questions?

Contact Lori Jo Hill at lhill@kychamber.com or 502-848-8727

Chamber idea: Tours help Ocean Springs business owners get to know one another

When small business owners get to know other small business owners, the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce says it could lead to a bigger profit margin for all.

That's why the Chamber launched a series of city tours exclusively for business owners called "Meet Your Neighbors"

In the year since Brandin Brosh opened her clothing store in downtown Ocean Springs, she has built relationships with many of her customers. 

"I just like the atmosphere down here versus being in a crowded busy mall,"said Brosh. "I form relationships with my clients and everyone is great." 

To also develop bonds with other business owners like herself, Brosh has tagged along for two of Ocean Springs Chamber's Meet Your Neighbors tour. In 2015, the Chamber will host a total of six tours which will make stops in businesses across the city. 

"Uptown. Downtown. And all over town. The opportunity for businesses to meet other businesses," said Margaret Miller, Chamber Director. "You put 20 people on a trolley from eight in the morning until two in the afternoon  and the partnering that takes place on that trolley has been phenomenal." Read more: WLOX.com

Bartlett, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Western DuPage Chambers to host business Expo

 The Bartlett, Batavia, Elgin, Geneva, St. Charles, and Western DuPage chambers of commerce will host the second Fox River Luncheon & Business to Business Expo, with guest speaker Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti.

The event will be held from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at St. Andrews Golf Club, 2241 Route 59, West Chicago. It will feature sponsored businesses during the Fox River Luncheon & Business to Business Expo followed by lunch with Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti telling her inspirational story. 

Admission is $35 for members of the six chambers of commerce and $50 for nonmembers. For more information, contact the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce. team@westerndupagechamber.com or (630) 231-3009.

Tickets Now on Sale for Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber’s New Event-Flashback!

Taylor, MI – The Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber has added a new event to its line-up.  Flashback! will be a trip back in time to everyone’s high school days.  Wear your high school colors and bring high school memorabilia for a chance to win prizes.  Enjoy high school hangout food like burgers, dogs, onion rings and nachos!  Unlike your usual high school hangout, there will be a cash bar!

Dance to the music of the past seven decades by a live band and compete with your friends in trivia and other fun contests.

The main show will feature comedian/hypnotist Kevin Lepine. Winner of "Best of Vegas" and other awards, Kevin Lepine is thrilling audiences nightly with his show Hypnosis Unleashed on the Vegas Strip. Razor sharp comedy mixed with charm will make this an unforgettable event.

Sponsorships are available for Chamber members who want to promote their businesses to this audience.

Date:                  Thursday, September 15, 2015

Time:                  6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Location:            Parkside Gardens, 14700 Reaume Parkway Civic Circle, Southgate, MI

Cost:                   $30 pp. or $250 for a table of ten

Registration:       Online at www.swcrc.com, by phone at 734.284.6000 or by email at info@swcrc.com

CONTACT: Sandy Mull, 734.284.6000, ext. 29 or sandy@swcrc.com

Fairfax Chamber to Host Panel of 2015

Greater Washington Innovation Awards Finalists and Winners

Fairfax Chamber’s Innovation in Action panel on Tuesday, September 29^th, from 3:00 – 5:00 PM at the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce in Tysons Corner, Virginia. The panel will feature industry-leading companies and inspiring individuals whose innovations create new consumers and markets. These are the individuals who are transforming the way we do business.

Panelists will discuss:

· Fairfax Chamber Innovation Awards submissions
· How to create a culture of innovation within the workplace
· What or who inspires and motivates them to stay innovative
· Advice for up-and-coming leaders and companies striving to be innovative in today’s business environment.

Registration is available online. Entry is $30 for Fairfax Chamber members and $50 for non-members. Panelists include:
· Beth Brummel, VP of External Affairs, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts
· Mike Keymer, Chief Executive Officer, Origent Data Services, Inc.
· Adam Segal, Founder, cove
· Moderated by Harry Klaff, Managing Director, JLL

Chamber Best Practices: Indiana Chamber Executives Assn. Testimonials

"Not long after starting in this profession, I attended the Hoosier Chamber Academy and it was so beneficial that I immediately signed up two staff members after my completion. I have also received benefits from the “peer to peer connection” which has allowed me the opportunity to learn from others in the chamber world. An investment in the ICEA is an investment in your Chamber." --- Dan Canan, IOM, Executive Vice President, One Zone, 

Town Square Publications produces local chamber and county maps across the United States - Let us help you next!

Town Square Publications, a division of the Daily Herald Media Group, is a national chamber custom publishing group that specializes in developing partnerships by producing high-quality print and digitally integrated publications along with other added value programs dedicated to creating relevancy for local chambers of commerce and other membership focused organizations interested in raising non-dues revenues.
Contact John Dussman directly at the Town Square offices at 847-427-4633. Mailing Address: 155 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Email address: jdussman@tspubs.com 

New NKY chamber chair: Stop the ‘provincialism’; Chamber event: Madison startup BluDiagnostics wins trip to woo Silicon Valley investors; Chamber Best Practices: Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.: Chamber and Economic Development VISION; Chamber interest: Suburban Chicago companies still find region the place to be; #LoveVa: Chamber interest: Giant artwork to go on display to promote visitation to the Historic Triangle; Brookhaven - Lincoln County Chamber Event: the 41st Annual Ole Brook Festival; Lansing Chamber honors next generation of leaders; Chamber Publications and Maps;

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

New NKY chamber chair: Stop the ‘provincialism’

David Heidrich didn’t take long to raise eyebrows after accepting the gavel as the new chairman of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Thursday night.

Sounding more like a political candidate than a business leader, Heidrich’s eight-minute speech:

■ Took on the Tea Party, saying local legislators need protection from “a small vocal minority in the next primary.”

■ Stressed the region needs to overcome “provincialism.”

■ Doubled down on the chamber’s commitment to getting a new bridge next to the Brent Spence Bridge, but said it should be part of a greater “transportation vision” for the entire Northern Kentucky region.

■ Reframed the discussion around the heroin epidemic to consider it a disease and not a crime.

■ Called out businesses to possibly give more to public works or even in taxes to get things done. Read more: Cincinatti.com

Chamber event: Madison startup BluDiagnostics wins trip to woo Silicon Valley investors

BluDiagnostics co-founder Katie Brenner will be on her way to Silicon Valley in October to see if West Coast investors are as enamored with her young company’s Fertility Finder as Midwesterners seem to be.

BluDiagnostics won the Pressure Chamber competition Tuesday evening, inching past five other businesses to win an all-expenses-paid trip to California to meet with well-heeled Silicon Valley venture capitalists and a consultation with Madison ad agency Lindsay, Stone & Briggs.

Six Madison startups each had five minutes to make a presentation and five minutes to field questions from the five judges.

BluDiagnostics is developing a device that checks a woman’s hormone levels using a saliva test. For the 25 percent of women who struggle to get pregnant, it can tell them as soon as four days in advance when they will be most fertile, Brenner said.

“Our mission is to help women understand their bodies and take control of their fertility,” she said.

One judge, Mikkel Svane, CEO and co-founder of Zendesk, was clearly impressed. “I love it,” he said. “It’s almost like magic.” Read more: Madison.com

Chamber Best Practices: Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.: Chamber and Economic Development VISION

Over the course of the past few decades, a shift has taken place when it comes to what’s important to young talent entering the workforce.

“When I was growing up it was about what you wanted to do,” says Kirk Moriarty, Director of Downtown Development at Greater Fort Wayne Inc. “For millennials and others, it’s about ‘Where do I want to do this?’”

This shift has important implications for community development strategies, putting focus not just on economic opportunities, but also what Moriarty calls “building a quality of place.” 

“Our goal is to create a space, and a working environment, that is attractive to the workforce of the future,” he added. “The kind of people it’s so vital to attract.”

 

‘Quality of place’ is one of three key GFW Inc. objectives, designed to help facilitate the realization of a regional vision. The vision, articulated by the Regional Cities Initiative, is to grow the population of northeast Indiana from 750,000 to one million in the next ten years. This includes transforming Fort Wayne, the region’s metropolitan center, into a top 25 metro city in the U.S.

And development is underway to do just that. Specifically, Moriarty said, with the current Landing project.

“The Landing is a comprehensive redevelopment effort in Downtown Fort Wayne that looks at the last remaining vestiges of our history,” he said. “We have acquired seven buildings in order to execute an economic development project that is unified, has lasting ability, and revisits what it used to do 100 years ago -- even 30 years ago -- as a dynamic center of mercantile and entertainment.”

 

Over the last ten years, Fort Wayne has designed and implemented a series of significant economic development projects, moving toward what Moriarty says has always been the ultimate focus: riverfront development. And now, after putting these ‘stepping stones’ into place, Fort Wayne is in a position to move forward on plans for the riverfront.

Moriarty said that the development team at GFW Inc. is working with individual business owners to help them find where they fit into this picture -- figuratively and literally. He works to help investors find suitable space for their business.

Chamber interest: Suburban Chicago companies still find region the place to be

In spite of Motorola Solutions' decision to move its headquarters to Chicago for wider access to talent, business executives and other experts say there's no shortage of talented workers in the suburbs.

There are a number of reasons why companies seek new locations in Chicago or other areas. They can be motivated by difficulty finding skilled workers within a particular industry, a lack of convenient public transportation to the suburbs and traffic congestion leading to longer commutes, according to a new survey by the Schaumburg Business Association and Roosevelt University's Organizational Effectiveness Consulting Center in Schaumburg.

SBA President Kaili Harding points out that while Motorola will move 800 jobs to Chicago, "a substantial part of Motorola's workforce" -- 1,600 employees -- will stay in Schaumburg.

"There certainly is not a mass exodus," she said of Schaumburg, "and, in fact, we've welcomed several new businesses to Schaumburg in the past few years that moved out of Chicago." Read more: Daily Herald

#LoveVa: Chamber interest: Giant artwork to go on display to promote visitation to the Historic Triangle

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - Quirks of Art, an American Handcraft Gallery located in the City of Williamsburg, VA has been awarded a state tourism grant to install a one-of-a-kind LOVEworks sculpture as part of a state and local partnership to promote tourism. The artwork, which stands eight feet high, is part of the Virginia is for Lovers campaign and is designed to promote family-friendly vacation experiences in Virginia.

Visitors will be encouraged to take a picture in front of the artwork and share it on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, using the special hashtag #LOVEVA and #LOVEWMBG. Quirks of Art owner, Jennifer Raines and her staff will encourage photos through a photo contest, which will run until November 15th. One lucky winner will receive a scaled-down version of the sculpture as a grand prize, valued at $200.

Quirks of Art will unveil the sculpture at an event on Thursday, September 17th from 4-6PM at their location at 1430 High Street in Williamsburg. “Then she will go on the move, dancing around town until she comes back to us at the holidays. Her first stop is the week-long Spoke & Art event in Colonial Williamsburg from September 21-27th”

said Raines. “Tourism is a huge revenue generator for Virginia. Governor McCauliffe just announced that travelers spent $22.4 billion dollars in Virginia in 2014. I think that we all need to continue to focus on enhancing the visitor experience while we have them here, and sometimes all that takes is a unique photo opportunity with their family.”

The sculpture, which stands 8-feet-tall was designed by renowned metal artist, Don

Drumm of Ohio. Drumm pioneered the use of cast aluminum and contemporary

building materials as an artistic medium. In 1960, Drumm opened his own studio, and still works as a full-time sculptor, designer, and craftsman. He has designed a wide range of public, commercial and private commissions in the USA and abroad.

"Our iconic Virginia is for Lovers brand is about love - pure and simple, and has been for more than 40 years," said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. "We are excited to share the LOVE at locations throughout the Commonwealth where so many people can enjoy being a part of it. It reminds us that Virginia is an ideal destination for families looking to completely connect on a Virginia vacation.” Contact: Jennifer Raines, jenn@kinksandquirks.com 757-645-4366

Brookhaven - Lincoln County Chamber Event: the 41st Annual Ole Brook Festival

Lansing Chamber honors next generation of leaders

Lauren Long believes every woman, no matter what their size, should feel beautiful.

That’s the idea she had when she opened Curvaceous Lingerie in 2012, a boutique that has something for every woman.

“I just feel like we have certain battles that society creates for us as women,” said Long, whose shop is located at 513 E. Grand River Ave. “It can be discouraging sometimes to be a woman. At Curvaceous … you can be whatever you want to be in here and you can feel beautiful.”

Through her business, Long has been able to run ad campaigns to help women improve their self-esteem, which is one of the reasons she was recognized as an up-and-coming leader in Lansing during the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 10 Over the Next Ten Awards on Tuesday night.

"This is the next generation of leaders in the region," said Tim Daman, president and CEO of LRCC, of the 10 winners. "They take a step above and beyond the scope of their day-to-day operations."

The awards are a way to recognize young professionals making a difference in their community outside the scope of their jobs. To be considered for the award, people must be have been in the region for at least two years, participate in community organizations and be younger than 35.

The 2015 winners are: Read More: Lansing State Journal

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