Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!
Lone on-air Virginia chamber of commerce shooting survivor pens thank you to community
More than a month after being injured in a deadly shooting on live television that claimed the lives of two others and left her as the lone survivor, Vicki Gardner has remained in high spirits during her recovery.
Gardner was injured in a shooting on Aug. 26 that claimed the lives of WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27.
Parker was interviewing Gardner, the executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, at around 6:45 a.m. in a shopping center in Moneta, Virginia, when gunman Vester Flanagan opened fire.
Flanagan, 41, a disgruntled former employee who had been fired by the station, took his own life during a police chase later in the day.
On Monday, Gardner continues to show courage, radiate positivity and spread her vision for Smith Mountain Lake.
In a “Thank You” letter she wrote:
Smith Mountain Lake is an amazing community and I’m so proud to be recognized as one of its leaders. The tragedy on Aug. 26 that claimed the lives of talented WDBJ7 journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward thrust our community into an international spotlight. There were so many questions left unanswered.
The intense media coverage – local, regional, state, national, even international – served a purpose, and that was to tell the story of how our community responded with strength and dignity. Senseless acts of violence happen all too often. While circumstances may be different, the act is always unexpected and often misunderstood. In many cases, communities are divided, destroyed and left with an unshakeable dark shadow because residents are unprepared and don’t know how else to vent their grief and frustration.
That was not the case with Smith Mountain Lake. I can say with pride that as a direct result of this horrific act, an incredible number of lake residents have reached out to meet new “neighbors” and develop new friendships. A powerful shield of respect now blankets our region, serving as a reminder of the sacrifice members of our law enforcement community and rescue crews provide 24/7. We witnessed prompt action and support by businesses, residential, organizations and individuals. The hashtag #SMLStrong was created and brought to life with amazing speed and pride.
The Day of Remembrance on Sept. 19 at Bridgewater Plaza, the site of the shooting, was perhaps the most visible testimony to the strength of the Smith Mountain Lake community with hundreds turning out in bright blue T-shirts emblazoned with #SMLStrong to honor Adam and Alison and see a permanent memorial to them unveiled. Watching everyone join hands to embrace the plaza was truly inspirational and an important step on our road to healing.
I can’t say thank you enough for the support shown to me in my recovery. Cards, flowers and gifts have arrived from all over the world and are a definite boost to my spirits. I wish I could respond to all but the volume is overwhelming, so just know that each and every gesture is so appreciated! Generous donations also continue to arrive at the Chamber for “Vicki’s Vision,” a project I hope to be able to share more details on soon. In a nutshell, the goal is to create a much-needed gathering spot that will be not only a tremendous benefit to the region, but a lasting tribute to Alison and Adam.
The healing process is slow, but I am feeling stronger each day and am eager to return to doing the job I love: promoting Smith Mountain Lake! Participating in all of the events scheduled to celebrate SML’s 50th anniversary – now just a few months away – provides a powerful incentive for me. I hope you’ll find out more about how you can be part of the excitement at http://www.VisitSmithMountainLake.com.
Senseless acts of violence will not end here. We cannot change what has happened, and there is nothing we can do that will bring Alison and Adam back to their loved ones. However, the community of Smith Mountain Lake can continue to serve as a world-wide example of how unity, leadership and vision can make a community stronger, its members closer than ever.
Stay #SMLStrong,
Vicki Gardner
Executive Director
Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce
Vicki Gardner
Executive Director
Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce
ource: WKRN Nashville
Chamber proponent: Muskegon looking for its next STAR to promote area
The Watch Muskegon image campaign is entering a new phase.
The campaign's logo appears all across the county and on billboards internationally. Now, community leaders behind the campaign are looking for residents who want to become a Muskegon STAR.
The Muskegon STAR component of the campaign will train individuals to communicate all the positive progress in Muskegon.
Participants in the program will receive training from the staff at Michigan Works in an effort to grow Muskegon's economy.
"Muskegon STARS are going to get a broad education on everything from tourism assets and cultural attractions, a history lesson on the community, and learn about our largest employers," said Cindy Larsen, president of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.
"So people who take this training are going to be able to answer any question about Muskegon County in a way that is helpful to others." Read more: WZZM 13
Kentucky Chamber: What We Do
Uniting Business. Advancing Kentucky. From its beginnings more than 65 years ago. the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has evolved into the premier business association in the state. The Chamber represents the interests of more than 60,000 employers across the Commonwealth. From family-owned shops to Fortune 500 companies in virtually every industry in the state, our business community shares a vested interest in enhancing Kentucky’s ability to compete on a national and global scale.
In 2011, the Chamber was awarded the status of being an Accredited State Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
In 2011, the Chamber was awarded the status of being an Accredited State Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The Kentucky Chamber's powerful grassroots network, through a partnership with more than 80 local chambers in the state, consists of 25,000 professionals. Strength in numbers continues to help the Chamber influence policymakers in areas such as business taxation and fiscal policy, environmental and safety issues and workers' compensation, health care and education reform.
Our mission is not always easy, but the Kentucky Chamber continues to provide leadership as a catalyst, consensus-builder and advocate to unite business and advance Kentucky. Read more: Kentucky Chamber
Madison Chamber Annual Dinner: Business leaders are challenged to help bridge the diversity gap
Entrepreneurship is booming in Madison and Dane County’s growing job market is “driving the state’s economy,” Zach Brandon, president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce told 1,000 attendees at the business group’s annual dinner Wednesday night.
But there are still gaps to bridge — gaps of diversity and poverty — and it’s time for the business community to step up and help, he added.
“We can’t leave anyone behind as our businesses move forward,” Brandon said.
“A puzzle is a challenge waiting to be solved” was the theme of the dinner, held at Monona Terrace.
Keynote speaker Richard Reeves, a senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, presented data showing the American dream is far less accessible to blacks or to children raised in poverty.
Even among black Americans raised as middle class, 72 percent are likely to wind up poor, twice the rate of whites who fell from middle class to low income, Reeves said. Read more: Madison.com
Terre Haute Chamber: The Need For Speed
Orange barrels fill the street for now but, in the near future, one local company hopes new businesses will follow after the city picks up the cones.
"It's an attraction to businesses knowing that if they come here that they are going to be provided with state of the art connectivity," said Chamber of Commerce President, David Haynes.
Joink trusted technology solutions is finishing a loop of underground fiber optic cables that will change the internet experience.
"Fiber optics allows us to carry signal across a strain of glass for a very long distance with a very high capacity," explained Joint C.E.O. Josh Zuerner.
The technology will make internet speeds 200 to 300 times faster than the average delivery system..... With that comes a hefty price tag. However the project isn't geared towards average households.
"It's an attraction to businesses knowing that if they come here that they are going to be provided with state of the art connectivity," said Chamber of Commerce President, David Haynes.
Joink trusted technology solutions is finishing a loop of underground fiber optic cables that will change the internet experience.
"Fiber optics allows us to carry signal across a strain of glass for a very long distance with a very high capacity," explained Joint C.E.O. Josh Zuerner.
The technology will make internet speeds 200 to 300 times faster than the average delivery system..... With that comes a hefty price tag. However the project isn't geared towards average households.
"Presently the biggest beneficiaries of our services are for our enterprise customers so those are organizations that typically have a headquarters and have multiple branches around town we're helping them achieve very high capacity connectivity between headquarters and branches," added Zuerner.
Chamber of Commerce President David Haynes sees the benefit. "The greater majority of the businesses that belong to the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce are small businesses." Read more: MyWabashCounty.com
Chamber of Commerce President David Haynes sees the benefit. "The greater majority of the businesses that belong to the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce are small businesses." Read more: MyWabashCounty.com
GOA Regional Business Association, Rolling Meadows Chamber Manufacturing Forum: Companies also are seeking women to enter field
Finding qualified job candidates and developing the next generation of workers are priorities so manufacturers can remain viable in the future, experts said Thursday.
An ongoing worry for many suburban manufacturers involves finding qualified candidates. Many companies already have made connections with local high schools and community colleges. But until that next generation of workers finds their niche and proper training, many manufacturers will worry about filling positions, they said.
"Finding good, tech-oriented personnel is key now, because most of those workers have retired now and the new generation has not kept up with the expertise that's needed," said Kathryn Miller, owner and president of HST Materials Inc. in Elk Grove Village.
Mentoring, cross training, apprenticeships, school-related internships and other programs should be expanded, Miller and others said.
Miller was joined by other panelists at the Daily Herald Business Ledger Newsmakers' Forum Thursday. About 130 business leaders, chamber officials and others attended the event at Avalon Banquets in Elk Grove Village.
Other panelists were Craig Johnson, mayor of Elk Grove Village; John Sassaris, group president of commercial banking of MB Financial Bank in Chicago; Steve Czajkowski, application engineering manager for motion control at Siemens Industry in Elk Grove Village; and Steven R. Goluch, principal of Weiss & Co., LLP in Glenview. Read more: Daily Herald
Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber manager leaves strong legacy
After 42 years as the “glue” of the Chamber of Commerce, office manager Pam Cartwright will retire at the end of the year. By all accounts Cartwright was a rare gem who would gladly put in the hard work, but never wanted any recognition. “Pam is the glue the holds us all together,” said Garrick Combs, Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber executive director. “Thirteen years later when I had the opportunity to come back to Brookhaven as Chamber director, one of the biggest reasons the job was appealing to me was that I knew just how great the staff is and that Pam had the office under control and knew everything there was to know about the Chamber.” “[She’s] one of those kind of people that does a great job and doesn’t want the recognition,” said Stan Patrick, current Chamber president who has worked with and known Cartwright for many years. “[She] doesn’t want to be in the limelight, but she is the behindthescenes person who makes sure everything is done. She’s always there to take care of things.” Cartwright also serves as board secretary of the Lincoln County United Way and her peers all referenced the great work she has done for the organization. Read more: DailyLeader.com
Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Custom 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> with the subject line: Chamber Directory RFP.
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