Happy Monday, Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day! Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce Plans Expo; Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Virginia Peninsula 'Bridge' works to develop local young professionals; #BestChamber Practices – The Ambassador Program – Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce (Part 7 of 14) – The Ambassador Points Program; #BestChamber Practices: Chicago Southland Chamber: Membership 101: Keys To Your Success; #FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations --- (Chamber Executive Resourcefulness); Christy Trammell to serve on state chamber board; Chamber partnership: Jackson-area groups join high-tech initiative; Milton Area Chamber partnership: Wally's Music Fest will bring ’80s music and more to Milton; Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories, Community Profiles, Re-Location Guides and Custom Maps

Happy Monday, Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!


Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce Plans Expo

MERRILLVILLE – The Best of the Northwest Business Expo is back – save the date for Wednesday, May 25 from 4-7 pm at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, 800 E. 81^st Avenue in Merrillville. This year’s expo features a baseball theme: “Swing for Success”.

Sponsored by Franciscan Alliance and The Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza, the Expo will feature businesses from all industries, including Cooper ’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Bosak Chrysler Jeep Dodge, NITCO and more! Entrance to the Expo is free of charge and the community is encouraged to come and explore the many businesses Northwest Indiana has to offer.

Space is filling up and but there is still time for businesses to register for a booth by calling Jane at 219.769.8180.

Here’s what a previous Expo participant had to say about the Business Expo.

“I’ve participated at the business expo for the past eleven years which has always resulted in positive returns. In fact, last year I was able to pick up several new contacts that turned into qualified business. A successful action in each business expo is to be in front of my booth engaging each passerby with my company name and a 30-second commercial. This inevitably will spark a conversation with one person that may glance at my booth but not really know what my company does. Having the opportunity to do a 30-second commercial helps with the goal of not only helping my business community, but also the general public.”  Kelly Dooley, Avalon Springs --- More Information: Crossroads Regional Chamber




Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Rapid City Chamber today! Thanks to Linda Rabe, Kristina Simmons and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Town SquarePublications  (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.

Virginia Peninsula 'Bridge' works to develop local young professionals

Young professionals don't have to go to South Hampton Roads to network with peers, find mentors or learn how best to manage their careers.

Bridge is a new young professionals program launched in February by the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. The program is a result of Newport News and Hampton economic development staffs brainstorming with the Chamber on how best to help maintain an active community of young professionals under 40 years old on the Peninsula.

The Chamber didn't want to duplicate other efforts such as social meet-ups or efforts by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, said Jemal Harris, Peninsula Chamber director of economic advancement. Still, businesses were concerned about a gap in Peninsula programming targeted to young professionals.

The Chamber conducted focus groups and learned that Peninsula millennials were hungry for professional development and making connections among like-minded peers and potential mentors, Harris said.

The first Bridge event on Feb. 25 at the Chamber office in Hampton attracted about 30 attendees interested in learning tips on how to land better jobs or move up in their respective fields or organizations.

A lot of folks typically don't have a human resources friend to call up and ask questions, said attendee James Salgado with ADP Payroll Services.

Carrie Chi, human resources director for Tidewater Physical Therapy Inc. who shared tips at the event, wishes she would have had someone giving her that kind of information and perspective earlier in her career. Read more: Daily Press

#BestChamber Practices – The Ambassador Program – Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce (Part 7 of 14) – The Ambassador Points Program

Every year, an Ambassador of the Years is Selected based on points.

It’s Simple…..

20 Points: Recruit New Chamber Member

10 Points: Deliver New Member Packet

10 Points: Attend New Member Orientation with New Member

10 Points: 6th Month Personal Visit to New Member Assigned to You

5 Points: Attend Monthly Ambassador Meeting

5 Points: Attend Monthly Chamber Luncheon

5 Points: Attend Ribbon Cutting/Ground Breaking

5 Points: Wear Chamber Shirt to Chamber Event

5 Points: 2nd Month Phone Call to New Member Assigned to You

5 Points: 3rd Month Phone Call to New Member Assigned to You

10 Points: Golf Classic Registration Table AM or PM

10 Points: Golf Goody Bag Preparation

10 Points: P/Up or Delivery of Items to Golf Course

10 Points: Golf Hole-In-One Watch

10 Points: Golf Golden Ticket Prize Table

5 Points: Golf Golden Ticket Prize (5 pts. Each)

5 Points: Wear Chamber Shirt to Golf Classic

10 Points: Ambassadors’ Luncheon – Bringing Soup or Dessert

10 Points: Ambassadors’ Luncheon – Staying to Participate in Luncheon

20 Points: Annual Dinner Set-Up

10 Points: Annual Dinner Registration Table

10 Points: Annual Dinner Greeter/Host or Hostess

20 Points: Annual Dinner Clean Up

20 Points: P/Up or Delivery of Items to Annual Dinner

10 Points: Volunteer at State Fair Booth

10 Points: Volunteer at the Kentucky Wine & Vine Festival

Award will be announced and recognized at the Annual Membership Meeting.

Ambassador of the Year will receive a new nametag with the recognition on it, be featured in the Chamber Newsletter & Tuesday Tidbits, as well as have their name, bio and photo in Ambassador Display for one year in the Chamber lobby.

We award this every year— Might as well be YOU

More information: Contact the Jessamine County Chamber --- www.jessaminechamber.com

#BestChamber Practices: Chicago Southland Chamber: Membership 101: Keys To Your Success

If you've recently joined the Chicago Southland Chamber, are looking to join, or you've been a member for years, then this meeting is for you! See what the Chamber and its businesses offer and how we can assist you in your business. We will walk you through the Chamber's website and How you can promote your business from it See how others view your business on the Chamber's website How to update your business' contact information, how to register for events and even pay your invoices on-line Learn the various committees and events that you are able to participate in Sign up for the affinity programs that can save you money everyday. Tuesday, March 15th 9:00 - 10:00AM We meet every 3rd Tuesday at the Chamber office. Registration Reguired #FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations --- (Chamber Executive Resourcefulness) “Great emergencies and crises show us how much greater out vital resources are than we had supposed.” William James

Three Rivers Area Chamber's Christy Trammell to serve on state chamber board

A statewide association representing more than 300 chambers of commerce in Michigan has appointed Christy Trammell to serve on the board for a term that expires in 2019.

Trammell, executive director of the Three Rivers Area Chamber of Commerce, will be on the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals.

Serving in the position will allow Trammell to help set the strategic direction of MACP and take an active role in advancing its strategic agenda.

Bob Thomas, executive director for MACP, said Trammell is held in high regard by her industry peers and will be an outstanding asset to the organization. Read more: Sturgis Journal

Chamber partnership: Jackson-area groups join high-tech initiative

The White House has named Jackson a new TechHire community, making it part of the administration’s initiative to better train people for high-tech jobs.

Jackson was among 15 community partnerships recently joining the initiative. The White House made the announcement Tuesday.

The effort, launched in March last year, is part of the administration’s efforts to expand jobs, particularly in the higher-paying technology industry. Technology jobs pay about 50 percent more than average private-sector jobs, said Jacob Leibenluft, deputy director of the National Economic Council.

“Too many Americans think these jobs are out of their reach,’’ Leibenluft said. “Today’s announcements are about positioning ourselves to build a pipeline of talent equipped to fill these jobs.’’

Jackson-area groups, including local colleges, will team up to train people for 250 high-tech jobs this year. The goal is to increase that to 1,000 by 2020, the administration said.

Technology jobs, particularly in health care, are in growing demand, said Jonathan Barnett, coordinator for Jobs for Jacksonians, a citywide initiative aimed at helping people get into the workforce.

While the local economy has made strides since the recession, there's a pressing need to expand employment opportunities for potential workers, Barnett said.

“We want to provide an environment for them to flourish,'' he said. "We believe that this TechHIre initiative is a step in the right direction.’’

In addition to Jobs for Jacksonians, the partners include the city of Jackson, Working Together Jackson, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership of Mississippi, Hinds Community College and Jackson State University.

The groups plan to model their effort after a program started last fall by the city and Hinds Community College. That program trains people in construction and manufacturing. Read more: Hattiesburg American

Milton Area Chamber partnership: Wally's Music Fest will bring ’80s music and more to Milton

Dani Stivarius

Flash back to the 1980s when big hair, MTV and Rubik’s cubes were all the rage.

You can relive the 80s on Friday and Saturday, June 10-11 when the first-ever Wally’s Music Fest kicks off at Schilberg Park.

Event organizers say the two-day event will be a “mini-Summerfest,” complete with two days of 80’s music, dancing, food, a beer tent and lots of big hair.

Organizers include the Milton Area Chamber of Commerce, The Gathering Place, Milton FFA Alumni and the Milton Historical Society.

Dani Stivarius, executive director of MACC, said there will be two stages, and music will play continuously throughout the event.

“The idea is to have something for our local community to do, but also to drive people to our community from all about to see our unique businesses,” Stivarius said.

Participants will receive a wristband at the gate that will earn them discounts and specials at participating businesses.

The event is named for Wally Schilberg, a Milton businessman who owned R&W Heating. Schilberg was also an active member of the Milton FFA, and donated to the Milton School District the land that Schilberg Park sits on.

The event is open to anyone 18 years old and older. Read more: HNG NEWS

Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce 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