#Bestchamber practices: Prince William Chamber Invites Business, Not-for-Profit Communities to Semi-Annual “Meet the Media” Event; GLMV's Ray Mullen aims to retire, but volunteer work still on tap; Mike Huber: 'Accelerate Indy' Makes Talent a Focus; Annual Taste of Auburn Hills Returns to Walter P. Chrysler Museum on October 20, 2016; Kyndle’s Regional Industry of the Year Awards breakfast Sept. 29; The New Orleans/Gulf South Region Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program deadline is Oct. 4th; Wisconsin joins overtime pay lawsuit; Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories and Community Profiles

Good morning #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT day!


#Bestchamber practices: Prince William Chamber Invites Business, Not-for-Profit Communities to Semi-Annual “Meet the Media” Event

Manassas, VA- On Tuesday, October 11 the Prince William Chamber of Commerce will host their semi-annual Meet the Media event at the offices of The REALTOR® Association of Prince William (4545 Daisy Reid Avenue; Prince William, VA 22192) from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Crafted by Chamber members working in marketing, communications and the news media, the program features four panel discussions offering opportunities for business and not-for-profit executives to foster and strengthen relationships with the news media for greater results in their public relations efforts. Kicking off the event will be guest speaker Christina Daves, Serial Entrepreneur and Founder of PR for Anyone. Each attendee will also take home a media guide booklet featuring contact information and preferences for dozens of local and regional news publishers, reporters and editors.

As the Keynote Speaker, Daves will cover “How to Build a Relationship with the Media,” drawing on her story of garnering media attention for her CastMedic Designs with no PR budget and no media contacts. Within a year she had been featured in over 50 media outlets, including national television.

“Many business people and not-for-profit executives are looking for an easy path to getting their news published. But just as with anything else in business, it’s really all about relationships,” says Prince William Chamber of Commerce Director of Marketing & Communications, Andrea Whaley. “You need to know the person on the other end of the proverbial line. Know what they cover. Discover how to be a help to them rather than seeing them as a tool to get your story out on the streets. Meet the Media provides the perfect venue for our members and others in the community to begin developing those important relationships. Plus, you can leave with a short list of media contacts who are looking to cover the kinds of stories you have to offer.”

Confirmed media participants to date include representatives from InsideNOVA; Prince William Living Magazine, The Observer Newspapers, PotomacLocal.com, WAVA and What’s Up Woodbridge. More panelists are signing up daily.

Breakout Sessions for Meet the Media include:

 Pitching a Story in the 21st Century: Welcome to the future, where a good old fashioned press release may not always cut it. Our panel of media professionals will share what works well when pitching a story in today’s email/internet/social media jungle. Discover new ways to pitch story ideas and the preferred methods of communication of each of our panelists. Plus, ask questions on how you can stand out from the crowd.

Get it Published in Your Own Words: That’s what everyone wants, right? You want to tell your OWN story in your OWN words. You wrote the perfect release, wouldn’t it be nice if your favorite news outlet could just publish the story as is? With the advent of promoted posts, your PR dreams can now be a reality. This panel discussion is for any businesses/organizations seeking opportunities to submit/write content. Find out how that process works and how to connect with the right publication for your content.

Find Your Niche: Are you sending every press release to every person on your media list? That could be why you’re not getting published as often as you would like.  Every media outlet is different. Just like your organization, they have a mission and a vision; and they cover different kinds of stories. Some focus on quality of life stories, others on business or government or economic development…even women’s issues. Within each staff, different reporters are even assigned to different beats. Know your audience so that you can cultivate a media list that enables you to send the right story to the right person for the greatest likelihood of making a connection that works for everyone involved. Ask our panelists about their niche and how to find the right media contacts for your kind of news.

Is This News?: Stop! Before you send that press release, ask yourself….”Is this really news?” Our guest speaker knows how to identify a good story, and how to turn a mediocre story into a GREAT story. She joins us to offer tips on identifying the stories you may be missing and how NOT to bore the media with story pitches that will never see the light of day.

Tickets for Meet the Media are $50 for members of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce and $65 for non-members. Pricing includes continental breakfast, attendance at all sessions and a printed media guide booklet featuring dozens of up-to-date media contacts. For more information or to register, call 703-368-6600 or go to PWChamber.org.




Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2016 Business Directory and Resource Guide

The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 2016 Business Directory and Resource Guide  is available at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber today! Thanks to Mike Kuhns, Suzy Johnson and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Virginia Peninsula Chamber 

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.

GLMV's Ray Mullen aims to retire, but volunteer work still on tap

Ray Mullen, GLMV Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, has decided to retire in late November.

"The most rewarding part of my job has been to meet with our members individually," said Mullen, 68. "Our local businesses provide the investment, employment and community support that make our communities vibrant and stable. It's been a pleasure to get to know many of these business leaders on a personal level."

Mullen was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and then moved a number of times over the years. Once he moved to Mundelein in 1983, he remained.

Mullen worked for MarquipWardUnited, an international manufacturer of machinery for the corrugated box and paper industries, and is the former owner of Debbie's Floral in Mundelein.

In 2013, he started as executive director at the chamber and focused on helping business owners make connections and learn about services to fuel that success.

"My experience as a local business owner has made it very clear to me that the success of any local business helps raise the tide for all other local businesses," said Mullen.

He believes all businesses need a plan and a mentor.

"Always take some time every week to work on the business. Focus on being in business, not being self employed," he said.

He is most proud of the amount of professional development that was added to the chamber services under his tenure.

"We have offered 15 or more seminars every year to the membership, utilizing the business leadership experience and expertise of our chamber members on topics ranging from digital marketing to strategic planning. Members have learned new ideas and best practices from each other." Read more: Daily Herald

Mike Huber: 'Accelerate Indy' Makes Talent a Focus

The chief executive officer of the Indy Chamber says the new economic development strategy for the Indianapolis region places a strong focus on talent and homegrown expansion. Michael Huber says Accelerate Indy aims to help the nine-county region compete with other metropolitan areas throughout the country. He says, in order to boost the regional economy, talent must become a top priority in addition to traditional economic development strategies.

Huber says one of the main ways to attract and retain talent is to put a greater focus on entrepreneurship and small business growth.

"Traditionally, a lot of cities and regions have built their economic development strategies on getting companies to relocate from other communities, said Huber. "But, as a percentage, many more jobs are going to be created by our homegrown companies and companies that are already here so we're trying to figure out what tools could we bring that would help them expand and in many cases, it's reducing barriers to expansion."

The chamber says Accelerate Indy also has a major focus on global trade. Huber says there are hundreds of companies in central Indiana that have international buyers for their products but they've never taken a serious look at exporting or the process seems too daunting. "We've realized that we can provide a really valuable service by connecting them to markets in other countries that have growing demand for their services or products."

One of the projects already underway as part of Accelerate Indy is the Metro Indianapolis Global Trade and Investment Strategy, which encourages mid-sized companies in the region to become exporters and attract foreign investment. Read more: Inside Indiana Business

Annual Taste of Auburn Hills Returns to Walter P. Chrysler Museum on October 20, 2016

Auburn Hills, Mich. – The Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce’s annual Taste of Auburn Hills, sponsored by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and presented by Faurecia, will take place at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum Thursday, October 20 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. This tasteful networking event features 20 food and beverage partners and includes entertainment, networking and a celebration of Auburn Hills’ automotive culture.

Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the Taste of Auburn Hills support a local charity in addition to funding the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce. This year, the Chamber is partnering with the Auburn Hills Meals on Wheels program. “Auburn Hills is committed to improving the quality of life for our senior community and we are proud to offer Meals on Wheels seven days per week,” said Karen Adcock, Director of Senior Services, City of Auburn Hills. “With our commitment to serving area seniors, we appreciate the Chamber’s support of our efforts.”

Taste of Auburn Hills partners include Arrowhead Grille by Cranks, B Spot Burgers, bd’s Mongolian Grill, Costco Wholesale, Cottage Inn Pizza, Great American Grille/Hilton Auburn Hills, Joe’s Crab Shack, Kruse & Muer in the Village, Lafayette Market, Longhorn Steakhouse, Mr. Pita, Olga’s Kitchen, O’Malley’s at Crowne Plaza, On The Border, Panera Bread, Rangoli Indian Cuisine, Red Wood Grill, Rochester Mills Beer Co., Sweets!, and TokyoSAN Fresh Japanese. Entertainment to the Taste of Auburn Hills is a student quartet from The Oakland Youth Orchestra, providing pop, jazz and classical music.

 Tickets for this event are $40 which includes two beer or wine drink tickets, or $50 at the door. Those purchasing 10 tickets or more will save 10%. A shuttle sponsorship to and from the Chrysler Special Event lot is also available. For more information on how to register for this event, visit auburnhillschamber.com, call 248.853.7862 or email info@auburnhillschamber.com.

Kyndle’s Regional Industry of the Year Awards breakfast Sept. 29

Kyndle will host its Regional Industry of the Year Awards breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 29 at the Henderson Fine Arts Center.

Kyndle will award an industry winner from each of the four counties in Kyndle Country — Henderson, McLean, Union and Webster.

Dave Tatman, executive director of the Kentucky Automotive Industry Association and former general manager of the General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant, will be the featured speaker.

For more information or reservations call the Kyndle office at 270-826-7505 or email info@kyndle.us. Source: Lane Report

The New Orleans/Gulf South Region Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program deadline is Oct. 4th

The New Orleans/Gulf South Region Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Delgado Community College is now accepting applications through October 4 for the Spring 2017 session. The program is intended to provide small business owners with the resources they need to grow and create jobs.

This best-in-class program begins in January and includes cost-free business education, business advising, and support. Applicants must meet the following criteria: be an owner or co-owner of a business that has been in operation for at least two years, employ at least four people, and have revenues above $150,000 in the last year.

For more information and to apply visit
www.10KSBapply.com or call 504-671-5555

Wisconsin joins overtime pay lawsuit

Wisconsin is among a coalition of 21 states suing the U.S. Department of Labor over a new rule that would make more higher-earning workers eligible for overtime pay.

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt filed the lawsuit in Texas on Tuesday, urging the court to block implementation before the regulation takes effect on Dec. 1.

The measure would repeal the so-called “white collar exemption” and more than double the salary threshold under which employers must pay overtime to their workers.

In joining Wisconsin to the lawsuit, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel said the rule could force state and local governments to eliminate some services and even lay off employees.

“The federal overreach we continue to see is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue, which is demonstrated by the bipartisan coalition of states fighting this rule,” Schimel said in a statement. “Wisconsin, and every other state, must be able to set their own priorities and policies, and not be forced to take directive from an unchecked Washington, D.C., bureaucracy attempting to establish unprecedented power.”

The lawsuit came the same day that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more than 50 other business groups filed a legal challenge against the regulation. Read more: Journal Sentinel

Town Square Publications Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories and Community Profiles

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 chamber publication or map proposal, Contact Town Square Here