Happy Friday, Chamber World! Have a GREAT weekend!
Wisconsin Could Be A Midwestern Silicon Valley, Madison Chamber Of Commerce President Says
Having long been associated with dairy, cheese, and sometimes Harley-Davidson, Wisconsin is a state whose reputation isn’t exactly rooted in the startup culture.
But to the president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Zach Brandon, that doesn’t mean the potential isn’t there.
Jobs related to science, technology, engineering and math – those so-called STEM fields – are concentrated in Wisconsin, to some people’s surprise, Brandon said.
"Madison, Wisconsin, has the second highest concentration of software publishing jobs in the country," he said. "That defies what we think is reality. We think that it’s Silicon Valley, we think it’s Austin, Texas."
The only city ahead of Madison is Seattle, Washington, he said.
Brandon’s faith in the existing technology economy in Wisconsin – along with hopes for its future – draws heavily on ideas from the co-founder of America Online, Stephen Case. Case’s recent book, "The Third Wave: An Entrepreneur’s Vision of the Future," suggests the country will enter a new economic era, or third wave, when businesses will use the power of data, technology and the internet to enhance or even disrupt existing industries like healthcare, manufacturing and agriculture. Read more: Wisconsin Public Radio
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce hosts its first Congressional Forum
Chamber brings Kentucky's congressional delegation to Louisville, saving business leaders a trip to D.C.
Join us Monday, August 29, 2016 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville for the Chamber's first Congressional Forum. The forum will provide Kentuckians a new way to interact with their representatives by bringing members of Kentucky's federal delegation back home to talk issues.
Featured speakers will include Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr of Lexington, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth of Louisville, U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie of Bowling Green and retiring U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield of Hopkinsville.
The Kentucky Chamber's inaugural Congressional Forum will give the business community access to legislative leaders and a chance to hear detailed accounts of the issues happening at the federal level without leaving the comfort of Kentucky.
Sponsorship opportunities are available, for questions contact Andrea Flanders at 502-848-8723 or
sign up online.
View the complete agenda.
Register now, and don't miss this rare opportunity to interact with your representatives, right here
in the Commonwealth!
Questions? For questions contact Lori Jo Goff via email or phone at 502-848-8727
Farmville Chamber award: Dapper Dan’s named Merchant of the Month
Although Dapper Dan’s Art and Antique Gallery has been in business for 30 years, it is relatively new to the Farmville community. But it quickly has settled in and maintained its popularity.
Owners Dan Roberson and Joe White restored the shop at 3743 S. Main St. and officially opened in October.
“We love being in Farmville and the small-town atmosphere,” White said. “We still have people who stop by and say 'Thank you for coming to Farmville.’ The local support is amazing, and our Greenville customers have followed us here.”
Dapper Dan’s also has new some hardware to show customers after being named the Farmville Chamber of Commerce’s Merchant of the Month award for July.
“Dapper Dan’s was an obvious choice. ... They are dedicated to Farmville like no other,” Judy Gidley, director of the Farmville chamber, said of Roberson and White.
Dapper Dan’s supports chamber and community events, including the Dogwood Festival window decorating contest, Taste of Farmville and Little Patriots on Parade, Gidley said. The business also supports the chamber’s annual golf tournament.
Roberson and White said they were humbled to have been selected as Merchant of the Month.
“This is a great honor, especially with the time we have been here,” White said. “To receive the award so quickly, we appreciate the support and encouragement.” Read more: Reflector.com
#BestChamber Creativity: Aurora Regional Chamber: Cardboard Boats Return
Join your friends and neighbors as Fox Valley United Way kicks off its 2016–2017 fundraising campaign with the 14th Annual Cardboard Boat Race at Phillips Park’s Mastodon Lake in Aurora.
There will be lots of music, food and family fun. Activities begin at 9:00 a.m. and awards are presented at noon, including "Most Spectacular Sinking." More information: Aurora Regional Chamber
Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber Event: Breakfast with Superintendents
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8-9:30 a.m. August 11, 2016
Breakfast with Superintendents
NEW location:
Bloomfield Hills High School
Connect with community leaders and hear the latest developments from our local school districts.
Who should attend: Parents, Local Businesses, Real Estate Agents, School Representatives, Tutoring Centers, Nonprofits, Relocation Services... RSVP Here
Green Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Guide & Map
The Green Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Guide & Map is available at the Green Lake County Chamber! Thanks to the Green Lake County 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.
Donnelly touts Gary's logistics potential at chamber event
U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., told chamber of commerce members that the city’s potential as a transportation hub positions it to thrive in coming years.
The first-term senator said the U.S. Customs facility planned for the Gary/Chicago International Airport “is critical” for the area’s future as a logistics hub.
“We’re looking at a place that is going to become an economic dynamo for us,” Donnelly said of the airport. “It’s going to be a huge job creator, I think.”
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection office will allow international flights to land at the Gary airport. That would promote Gary’s position as a logistics hub and attract supporting businesses.
“This is a natural home for all those things,” Donnelly said.
With interstate highways, rail and the lakeshore, “this is an absolute hub. If you need to move product, this is the place,” Donnelly said.
Engineering and design work is underway on the proposed U.S. Customs facility, which will be housed in a building recently used as a helicopter hangar.
Donnelly also talked about the state of the steel industry at Monday’s Coffee & Conversation gathering. Members of both houses of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, have “worked really, really hard” on trade cases involving alleged illegal dumping and currency manipulation, he said.
“We’ve started to win those cases,” Donnelly said. “We plan to have that continue.”
“We’ve started to win those cases,” Donnelly said. “We plan to have that continue.”
Donnelly said a significant concern is providing young people with a “road map” to successful lives, including guidance in gaining the skills needed for careers with area businesses.
“What (businesses) need more than anything are skilled, trained individuals,” Donnelly said. Read more: NWI Times
Downtown Meridian could bring opportunity for small businesses
One local organization believes small businesses may be able to benefit from new development coming to downtown Meridian. According to the Mississippi Small Business Development Center, small businesses make up about 90 percent of businesses in our state.
Over the past 8 years, Dermaine Johnson has been a cutting men's hair. Johnson says he has used barbering as way to prepare his clients for success in the Queen City.
"Whatever I do to you in here, is how you are perceived to the world. If you are going to a job and you are not groomed and you are not tamed, chances are you are not going to get that job. If you go in and you look presentable, things tend to work out for you," said Johnson.
After years of working for someone else, Johnson decided to branch out and open his own barber shop. Business counselor, Dustin Odom, says this is the time for people to start thinking about starting their own business. With new downtown development, Odom predicts it will attract more revenue to the area and help support small businesses."With the announcement of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center, we are seeing a lot of people who are looking to relocate downtown. And we are starting to see a lot more business in the downtown area. Hopefully within the next 4 or 5 next years we'll have a thriving downtown area that has been revitalized, with a lot of people from other states and cities within the state who will come to Meridian's downtown to shop and enjoy entertainment," said Odom.
Odom also says small businesses employ about half of the workforce in Mississippi. Starting out, Johnson says he will employ up to eight stylists. As the city continues its growth, Johnson hopes more people will look into starting their own business.
"It's another avenue of showing that, hey this guy did it; he is probably from my neighborhood. I can do it as well. It's just not going to be someone else's job," said Johnson.
Mississippi State University's Small Business Development Center will host a free workshop on starting your own business Aug. 6 at 2 p.m. The workshop is held each month at the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation on Front Street in Meridian. Read more: WTOK.com
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 for chambers 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.More information: Town Square Publications
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 chamber publication or map proposal, Contact Town Square Here
Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey
RULE #16 --- Great board meetings take 40 minutes
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