New Alexandria Chamber CEO Reflects on Challenges, Opportunities Ahead
From the offices of United Way Worldwide on North Fairfax Street where he serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer, Joseph Haggerty looks across the Potomac River and sees a tremendous opportunity for Alexandria as the new MGM casino is built at National Harbor.
To the north is Potomac Yard, which is slated for the construction of a new Metro station and commercial development. And in the Carlyle/Eisenhower East neighborhood, he sees great potential with the construction of the National Science Foundation.
Those and numerous other projects in the city excite Haggerty, who was announced as the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s new CEO last month, replacing the retiring John Long. As well as for professional reasons, Haggerty said he has a personal justification for agreeing to be the chamber’s new CEO.
“I travel a lot and I have a couple of kids and I thought this might give me a little more time not being in an airport on a Friday night at 10 p.m.,” he said. “I think the chamber has a lot of meetings and you’re probably out every night, but you’re not stuck at Dallas-Fort Worth airport on a Friday night. I think it will feel better to be involved in the local stuff that’s happening here, and also I’ll be running my own show.”
The New England native comes into his new role with the chamber having started at United Way as an intern while completing his master’s degree at the University of Connecticut. Read more: Alexandria Times
The interview: 3 questions with Las Cruces' outgoing chamber CEO (and Midland Michigan’s incoming chamber CEO)
If you're having business community problems, your old-school chamber of commerce might be one.
As Bill Allen, chief executive officer of the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, ends his tenure in New Mexico next week — both as CEO of the chamber, as well as president of the New Mexico Chamber Executives Association — he moves on to Midland Future, a new organization in Michigan that combines Midland's chamber of commerce with an economic development group in the area. While he says a combined platform isn't right for every city, chambers need to do more than provide networking opportunities if they're going to stay relevant to the business community.
Allen has spent the last five years leading the LCCC after moving here in 2010 following his time as executive director of the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce in Royal Oak, Michigan. Since 2010, gross revenue at the LCCC has increased by about $100,000 and the organization was one of the highest revenue-producing chambers in the state with $716,000 in revenue for the fiscal year ending in 2013.
What precipitated the change in job and the decision to go back to Michigan?
I was actually contacted by a recruiter who I helped out in the past, so he just suggested that I take a look at this opportunity. … The position itself presents a great opportunity, so that might have been the first thing I looked at. The size of the organization is a bit larger than our chamber here, so that was a positive. In addition, it’s not that much of a big deal to move back to Michigan, so that didn’t hurt.
Midland Future is a unique combination of a chamber of commerce and economic development group. Is this the future? Read more: Albuquerque Business First
Gala for Naperville Chamber of Commerce Jan. 29
Attendees have a chance to win a $2,000 grand prize.
The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce will host its Inaugural Gala: Back to Our Roots from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 at Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Naperville, located at 1823 Abriter Court. The event will benefit the Chamber as a not-for-profit organization and is its largest fundraising event of the year.
The evening will begin with an open bar cocktail reception where guests will have a chance to mingle, participate in a number of fundraising games and enjoy a hyper-local craft beer tasting. An assortment of appetizers has been carefully paired with selections from local craft breweries including: Hopvine Brewing Company, Granite City Brewery, Rock Bottom Brewery, Two Brothers Roundhouse, Pollyanna Brewing Company and Solemn Oath Brewery.
The cocktail reception will be followed by a 4-course dinner and an evening of dancing and celebration with music provided by Windy City Dueling Pianos. The evening will also feature a Draw Down presented by Banyan Treatment Center. Each attendee will be entered for a chance to win. Every 20th ticket drawn will win a $25 gift certificate to a local restaurant, and the final ticket drawn will receive a $2,000 grand prize.
The ticket price for the event is $150 per person or $1,550 for a Corporate Table which includes a table of ten and a quarter page advertisement in the program. Additional sponsorships are also available. Read more: Naperville Patch
Greensburg Decatur County Chamber good news: Indiana continues lowest unemployment levels since 2001
The November Indiana Unemployment Report has been released. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.4 percent in November, which continues the trend of the lowest levels in Indiana since August 2001.
Similarly, Indiana added 7,000 residents to the labor force last month, which brings numbers to a grand total of 100,000 since January 2013 – leading the Midwest. According to information provided by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, the gap in the labor force participation rate between Indiana and the national average, once again, improved for the nineteenth consecutive month.
“Unemployment in the Hoosier State continues to be at its lowest levels in more than a decade,” Commissioner Steven J. Braun of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development said. “Meanwhile, Indiana continues to lead the Midwest in labor force growth by a significant amount.”
Braun also mentioned that total claims for unemployment insurance in Indiana are at their lowest levels since 1997.
The Department of Workforce Development added that the private sector employment increased by 3,400 last month. They saw significant gains in construction and trade, transportation and utilities. However, they’ve seen losses in the manufacturing sector.
As for Greensburg, according to information provided by the Greensburg-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, the unemployment rate for the city lies below the state average with a rate of 3.6 percent. They currently have the third lowest rate in a 10 county range with Columbus holding the No. 1 spot. Read more: Greensburg Daily News
Monroe County Chamber assistance: American Furniture Expands Production Centers In Amory, Mississippi
American Furniture expanded its footprint in The Magnolia State by locating a manufacturing plant in Amory, Mississippi. The project represents a corporate investment of $560,000 and the creation of 140 jobs in Monroe County. American Furniture has existing manufacturing operations in Ecru, Mississippi, where the company has 757 employees.
For the expansion, American Furniture is locating six manufacturing lines in the 130,000-square-foot facility most recently occupied by Madison House Furniture. The company will also use part of the building for warehousing and distribution.
“AFM is excited about our start-up in Amory and being located in Monroe County. Our hope was to attract skilled associates that could jump start the operation, and our expectations have been surpassed by the number and skill levels of applicants we have received. Without the support of Mississippi Development Authority, the city and county, and the Monroe County Chamber, this project would not have happened so quickly,” said American Furniture CEO Al Wiygul.
“Having grown up in Amory, I am proud to give back to a community that gave so much to me as a child growing up here. Our plan will put us at six production lines by the end of January. Our business has grown at 20-plus percent for the last three years. If that momentum continues, this could be just the beginning,” he added. Read more: Area Development
Greater Beloit Chamber sets workshop on regulation changes
Vision Beloit, 500 Public Ave., will host the upcoming Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) seminar on changes to overtime regulations. The event will be held from 8-9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
The seminar will review the current state of the law regarding employee exempt/non-exempt status, the propsed regulatory changes and the implications of those changes on the workforce. Cost of the seminar is $10 for non-members and free for GBCC members. Visit greaterbeloitchamber.org for more information.
Chamber Cheers: Frankfort Area (Kentucky) Chamber of Commerce
Cheers to:
Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce: For helping to transform the image and reputation of Frankfort — a city that exists independently from being the seat of state government. Source: The State Journal
Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Location Guides and Custom Maps
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.
Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience 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
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, To request your publication proposal, Click here
Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Location Guides and Custom Maps
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.
Town Square Publications parent company, Paddock Publications, has over 100 years’ experience of print product development and dedicated customer service in communities throughout the Midwest. Our experience 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
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, To request your publication proposal, Click here
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