Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea (Manufacturing Entrepreneurs) - "Who Built that?" by Michelle Malkin; Alexandria Chamber Of Commerce Names Joseph Haggerty New CEO; Indy Chamber beefs up its microlending territory; New Jackson National Life Insurance headquarters latest investment in Lansing region; Paducah Chamber December Power In Partnership to feature Kentucky Chamber’s Dave Adkisson; Skokie Chamber interest: Illinois Science + Technology Park Update; Gulfport Chamber of Commerce hosts military at quarterly breakfast; Chamber collaboration: New cafe, frozen yogurt shop help fill downtown Evansville storefronts; Town Square Publications Chamber Directories and Maps

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

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea (Manufacturing Entrepreneurs) - "Who Built that?" by Michelle Malkin
Firebrand conservative columnist, commentator, Internet entrepreneur, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Michelle Malkin tells the fascinating, little-known stories of the inventors who have contributed to American exceptionalism and technological progress.

In July 2012, President Obama infamously proclaimed: “If you’ve got a business—you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”

Malkin wholeheartedly disagrees. Who Built That is a rousing tribute to the hidden American capitalists who pioneered everyday inventions. They’re the little big things we take for granted: bottle caps and glassware, tissue paper, flashlights, railroad signals, bridge cables, revolutionary plastics, and more.

Malkin takes readers on an eclectic journey of American capitalism, from the colonial period to the Industrial Age to the present, spotlighting awe-inspiring and little-known “tinkerpreneurs” who achieved their dreams of doing well by doing good. You’ll learn how famous patent holders Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain championed the nation’s unique system of intellectual property rights; how glass manufacturing mavericks Edward Libbey and Mike Owens defied naysayers to revolutionize food, beverage, and pharmaceutical packaging; how penniless Croatian immigrant Anthony Maglica started his $400 million Maglite flashlight business in a rented garage; and many more riveting stories that explain our country’s fertile climate for scientific advancement and entrepreneurship. Read more: Amazon

Alexandria Chamber Of Commerce Names Joseph Haggerty New CEO


The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce today announced that it has named Joseph V. Haggerty, the former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for United Way Worldwide, as its new Chief Executive Officer.
“We are extremely pleased to have Joe at the helm of the Alexandria Chamber,” said Walter Clarke, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. “He has had a long and distinguished career in community relationship-building, strategic organization and planning, and philanthropic fundraising. He will bring those valuable skills and expertise to Alexandria’s very active Chamber of Commerce, which will benefit greatly from his depth of knowledge and experience as the local business community continues to grow and prosper.”
Haggerty's career has been with the United Way. He has served as president of United Way organizations in St. Paul, Minnesota and Phoenix, Arizona. Moving to Alexandria from the CEO position at the Los Angeles United Way in 2004, he was named Executive V.P. and Chief Operating Officer for United Way Worldwide. He has been a volunteer with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce since 2009.
"I am honored to step into this position with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and I believe my skills and experience can help the Chamber move forward,” said Haggerty. “Both business and individuals need to be the Chamber’s strong voice, working with our elected leaders, to ensure that we thrive economically.”
Haggerty received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and earned a Master’s Degree of Social Work, with a major in Community Organization and Planning, from the University of Connecticut. He has also completed executive management programs at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Harvard Business School, and United Way of America. Read more: AlexandriaNews.Org


Indy Chamber beefs up its microlending territory



The Indy Chamber's microlending division has boosted its loan pool and enlarged its footprint, thanks to a new designation by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The division, known as the Business Ownership Initiative, announced Friday that the federal agency approved its application to become an SBA microlending intermediary. The new title comes with a modest capital injection and means it can start deploying hundreds of thousands of dollars to small businesses in the greater Indianapolis area on behalf of the SBA.
IBJ reported last year that the Indy Chamber was pursuing the designation.
“Ninety percent of businesses in our region have less than 50 workers, and they account for one of every five Indy jobs,” Indy Chamber CEO Micheal Huber said in prepared remarks. “Partnering with the SBA to strengthen microlending is a smart economic development strategy, supporting the homegrown ventures that generate employment and investment.”
Microloans are business loans, typically in the low-five-figure range, aimed at entrepreneurs who may have a tough time tapping banks or other sources for cash. They're often used to purchase inventory, upgrade equipment, buffer cashflow and more.
Before the SBA's blessing, BOI had already been managing a roughly $1.85 million microloan pool, but roughly 92 percent of it was restricted to Marion County because of restrictions placed by the entities that granted the capital, including the city of Indianapolis.
The new SBA status adds $250,000 to the loan pool, a figure that can grow as high as $5 million and be loaned outside of Marion County. Read more: Indianapolis Business Journal




New Jackson National Life Insurance headquarters latest investment in Lansing region


Whether it’s the newly expanded headquarters in Lansing or the Development Zone in East Lansing, Jackson National Life Insurance Company has its eyes on its people and their talents.

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce is honoring Jackson for its $100 million headquarters project and an expansion to its Lansing campus that puts its footprint at 600,000 square feet. The new space allows the retirement products firm to attract quality employees, President James Sopha said. Jackson plans to hire 1,000 new employees. Read more: Lansing State Journal


Paducah Chamber December Power In Partnership to feature Kentucky Chamber’s Dave Adkisson

November 23, 2015 --- Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dave Adkisson will be the featured speaker for the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce December Power in Partnership breakfast.  Adkisson will present “Creating a Vision for Kentucky.”  The breakfast will be held on Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 a.m. at the Julian Carroll Convention Center.  US Bank is the sponsor.
Adkisson has been with the Kentucky Chamber for the past 10 years.  He is past chairman of the national Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the Council of State Chambers. In addition, he serves on the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber and chairs the U.S. Chamber’s education policy committee. Adkisson was honored by the Kentucky School Boards Association as its 2014 “Friend of Education”. 
Adkisson is originally from Owensboro, where he started his career at the chamber of commerce and later served eight years as the mayor of Owensboro.  In 1999, he was named president of the Birmingham (AL) Chamber, where he served six years. Adkisson has held several statewide leadership posts in Kentucky, including chairman of the Kentucky Advocates for Higher Education.  He is a graduate of Georgetown College and holds a master’s from Harvard University.   Paducah Chamber

Skokie Chamber interest: Illinois Science + Technology Park Update

Innovations are in progress at the Illinois Science + Technology Park (IS+TP) in Downtown
Skokie. Owned by Forest City Enterprises since 2005, the IS+TP is home to more than 25
established firms and startup companies in 450,000 square feet of leased space. IS+TP tenants
specialize in nanotechnology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical research and manufacturing and
healthcare, and collectively employ approximately 1,400 people onsite.
Vetter Development Services USA, Inc., a German pharmaceutical firm that opened its first
United States operations in the IS+TP in 2009, recently completed expansion activities at the
park. When announcing adding an additional staff shift for daily manufacturing operations and
doubling capacity for performing important quality control functions, Vetter Managing Director
Peter Soelkner said, “We are extremely pleased with our past years performance at this facility,
as well as our overall success to date.” Vetter is a contract development and manufacturing firm
that specializes in aseptic filling. Drugs under development by Vetter’s customers include
advances in treatment of blood cancer, dwarfism, wound healing and muscular dystrophy.
Longtime IS+TP tenant Polyera recently announced development of The Wove ™ Band, the
world’s first flexible display product that can be used flat or wrapped around a wrist. The Wove
™ Band is the result of 10 years of development, spanning fundamental science, engineering and
design, with commercial launch planned for mid-2016.
The 29-year-old Technology Innovation Center, or TIC, business incubator recently relocated to
the park and is described as “A community of entrepreneurs bringing innovation to market.”
One new TIC resident company, Hazel Technologies, has patented technology to extend the
quality shelf-life of fresh produce, thereby conserving resources and reducing costly spoilage.
Another TIC startup company, SIM solutions, has expertise in fluid delivery devices for medical,
aerospace and related industries and is now designing a low-cost system for peritoneal kidney
dialysis.
The IS+TP also houses the Oakton Community College Nanotechnology Education,
Employment and Economic Development Initiative (NE3I), which offers nanotechnology lab
assistant training through a two-year curriculum initiative. Since being established in 2012, the
NE3I has received over $2 million in public and private grant funding. Area high school students
are able to take courses for dual credit at the NE3I lab and Oakton works with local employers to
provide internships and jobs for students during and following completion of the two-year
Nanotechnology Certificate program.
Forest City recently reported its intent to sell or secure financing partners for the IS+TP. Forest
City has assured the Village they remain committed to the IS+TP, and a sale or partnership
situation could include Forest City’s continued involvement in the park. Read more: Skokie Economic Development


Gulfport Chamber of Commerce hosts military at quarterly breakfast

Making connections and supporting the military was the message at Gulfport Chamber of Commerce's Quarterly breakfast on Friday. 
The chamber invited military representatives to the business community to get an update about what's happening on their bases, and also find more ways to support them. With two military installations in Gulfport, community members are always wanting to stay connected.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber CEO Kimberly Nastasi says because the United States military is intertwined with everything on the Gulf Coast, she found it important to invite military leaders into the business community. She says communication and shared information is vital.
"It's very important that we understand what each is doing and really capitalize on the relationship because it just strengthens each other's mission," Nastasi said.
Commander of the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Drake says the support from the community is crucial and keeps the bond strong between organizations. He also says its what keeps his troops in South Mississippi.
"There are communities that support the military in different levels. This community supports tremendously and so people want to come back here, because they not only know they're welcome but they're appreciated," Lt. Col Drake said. Read more: WDAM TV


Chamber collaboration: New cafe, frozen yogurt shop help fill downtown Evansville storefronts



Greg DeBroux looked at several communities before picking Evansville to relocate his longtime Oregon restaurant and catering business.
“I thought it had a great downtown, a good small-community vibe, and I believe there was a niche for us to fill that would provide great homemade soups and bakery and still be able to do my catering,” he said.
On Labor Day weekend, he opened DeBroux House Café at 18 E. Main St., filling one of the last vacant spaces on the downtown's cobblestone street.
When residents gather downtown for the annual Olde Fashioned Christmas this weekend, they'll find all available storefronts occupied for the first time in years.
With the recent addition of DeBroux House Café and Blu's Froyo Shoppe, expected to open Saturday, all storefronts that were seeking tenants are full, City Administrator Ian Rigg said.
“We're actually running out of space,” he said.
City Council President Jim Brooks, who also heads the city's economic development committee, credits landlords for making building improvements and work by the Evansville Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, Women Encouraging Evansville's Entrepreneurs (WE3), Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club and the economic development committee.
- See more at: Gazette Extra


Town Square Publications Chamber Directories and Maps 


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. More information: Town Square Publications

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