U.S. Chamber Awards the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce with 5-Star Accreditation
Naperville, IL. (November 17, 2016) – The United States Chamber of
Commerce today awarded the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) with
5-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational
procedures, and positive impact on the community. This marks the third,
consecutive time that the NACC has received this designation.
“Accreditation validates a
chamber as having programs that benefit their local economy and for positively
influencing action in their community,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, Vice
President, Federation Relations and Institute for Organization
Management. “We applaud these organizations for advancing the principles
of free enterprise.”
Accreditation is the only
national program that recognizes chambers for their effective organizational
procedures and community involvement. To receive Accreditation, a chamber must
meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of
governance, government affairs, and technology. This extensive self-review can
take 6-9 months to complete.
"I am honored to receive
5-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. I am proud of our team
who has worked tirelessly to earn this not only for the chamber, but for every
single one of our members,” said Nicki Anderson, President/CEO of NACC. “This
designation illustrates our commitment to providing our Members with excellent
resources, so they and the business community can thrive."
Local chambers are rated
Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or 5-Stars. State chambers are recognized as
either Accredited State Chamber or Accredited State Chamber with Distinction.
The final determination is made by the Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S.
Chamber board members.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce
is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more
than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state
and local chambers and industry associations.
Chamber partnership: Get a jump on holiday shopping at the Downtown Rochester Holiday Expo
Chamber partnership: Get a jump on holiday shopping at the Downtown Rochester Holiday Expo
Those anxious to begin their holiday shopping are invited to the Downtown Rochester Holiday Expo.
The event will be held 5-7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Royal Park Hotel and is a chance for the public to get to know the products and services offered in Rochester, just in time for the holidays.
Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce Director Sheri Heiney said the chamber is pleased to partner, once again, with the Downtown Development Authority for this “marquee community event.”
“Both organizations exist to connect the business community with the community at large, and this event is the perfect avenue for doing so. It serves as a wonderful unofficial kickoff to the holiday season, and we are thrilled and honored to be a part of it,” she said in an email.
From holiday makeovers to home décor ideas, DDA Director Kristi Trevarrow said people can find it all at the Downtown Rochester Holiday Expo.
Downtown Rochester, Trevarrow said, is known throughout the metro Detroit area as a must-see destination for the holidays.
“The Holiday Expo is a great opportunity to meet our business owners and see what amazing things they will have in store for the holiday season,” she said in an email.
At press time, over 60 businesses were registered to participate. The event is free and open to the public. People can also enter to win door prizes, but they must be present to win. Read more: C and G News
Michigan City Chamber to host public leaders forum
MICHIGAN CITY – The Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Public Leaders Forum on Nov. 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event, in the council chambers at Michigan City’s City Hall, is free and open to the public.
Ron Miller of WEFM Radio will moderate the panel. Mayor Meer, along with city officials Craig Phillips (planning & redevelopment), Michael Koss (sanitary district), Police Chief Mark Swistek, Fire Chief Randy Novak, and Clarence Hulse (MC Economic Development Corps) will participate. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions after the moderated session.
Registration not required, but RSVP is appreciated. Call the chamber office at 219-874-6221. Read more: News Dispatch
East Mississippi Business Development Council annual meeting looks to future
The business community from across East Mississippi filled the MSU Riley Center for the 20th Annual East Mississippi Business Development Corporation meeting.
“We tried to bring our members up to speed as to what is going on with workforce development both locally and state wide,” explained Jeff McCoy, Chairman of the EMBDC Board of Directors.
The annual meeting focused on the theme “Workforce on Demand” which showcased how the state and East Mississippi region fairs when it comes to workforce development opportunities.
“For the first time we really feel like we have a voice that is speaking from the same page, in a positive direction, and there is more progress that we have made in the last year and a half to two years than we have made in the last twenty years probably,” said Bob Luke, Past Chairman of the EMBDC Board of Directors.
Business leaders were also given some more insight about how Meridian was chosen by Raytheon to potentially build a new jet fighter facility in the Queen City.
“The next step is for Raytheon to win the contract from the government to build those planes and put the facility here in Meridian,” explained McCoy, “There is still work to go but working with Raytheon and with our congress, local officials hopefully we will be able to succeed in doing so.”
Business leaders explain that they are motivated to create jobs and enhance job opportunities to meet the workforce needed for potential projects, such as Raytheon. Read more: WTOK.com
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!
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| Rapid City Directory |
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.
Chamber assist: Made in Logan by Logan
Logan County woman makes necklaces, unique crafts
Tucked away in the large back room in Betty’s Antique Mall, where countless artifacts such as old dolls, antique furniture and a trove of 1970s comic books compete for space, Karen Logan has a horde of homemade jewelry and other crafts on display.
Sitting inside and on top of a glass storefront counter is an assortment of items Logan made herself, including sheets and burlap rolled into the shape of a flower and a cake stand made of a plate attached to the top of a candlestick holder.
For her crafts, Logan repurposes old objects and makes something new.
“One of my favorite things to do is go shopping and look for items that are either in thrift shops or Goodwill and things like that and find little gems there,” she said.
She often combines these “little gems” into new pieces, like the cake stand fashioned from the plate and the candlestick.
“You have a very unique piece you won’t ever see again, made out of something that was probably going to end up in the trash,” she said.
The creations Logan makes with the greatest frequency are her necklaces, some of which feature a clay pendant, stamped with a design and colored.
Logan originally got the idea for the clay necklaces from similar ones she’d seen on Pinterest, though she wanted to craft her necklaces with a fresh approach, she said.
“I don’t like to do anything someone else does exactly,” she said. “I just have it in my head and I try to put my twist on it.”
Her personal twist, she said, involves stamping designs into the clay, applying numerous colored patterns and burnishing the edges to give them a worn look.
Logan also makes necklaces with pendants made of wire bent into shapes and adorned with beads.
Above all, Logan strives for uniqueness in her crafts, she said.
“I can make stuff probably no one else is going to make,” she said. “I mean, there’s no fun in repeating everybody else. It’s fun showing people this is what I can do and this is what I did.”
Though she has plenty of previous experience with crafts ranging from cakes to embroidery, her current business, Logan Made, has formally been in operation since March.
Her husband, Charlie, who retired from the Russellville Fire Department in January, is a part of the company as well, specializing in woodworking.
Logan got the idea for her business and started getting it off the ground shortly after losing a job at a local dental office, she said. When she returned from maternity leave in January, she found the firm didn’t need her anymore, she said.
“I had free time all the sudden,” Logan said. “I was looking for a way to start making some money and so I spent most of January (and) February creating products that were ready to sell.”
By April, she had a booth set up in Betty’s Antique Mall, which sells her wares for her.
Employed now at the Logan County Chamber of Commerce as an executive assistant and with three children, she doesn’t always have time to make new things, much less sell them herself, Logan said.
Though her company has only been around for about half a year, Logan has gained a bit of renown for her artistic exploits locally.
On Oct. 25, Logan gave a presentation at the Logan County Public Library, showing a crowd how she makes her wire necklaces.
Tracy Houchens, the library’s adult programming coordinator, said she found out about Logan’s crafts while they were participating in the Logan Leadership Program, a program done through the Logan County Chamber of Commerce that highlights local businesses. “She was out touring and she had these really cute earrings on and I found out they were homemade,” Houchens said. Read more: Bowling Green Daily News
Downtown Kenosha, Inc. executive director resigns
As downtown Kenosha continues to address its challenges and opportunities, one of its key advocates has departed.
On Tuesday, Christopher Naumann resigned as executive director of Downtown Kenosha Inc. “to pursue other employment opportunities,” according to a statement from DKI.
An independent, nonprofit organization, DKI focuses on the revitalization and growth of downtown Kenosha. It spearheads economic development efforts and provides business support and promotional activities for the district.
The statement from DKI stated: “Until a search for a new executive director can be initiated, the Downtown Kenosha Inc. board of directors will manage the affairs for the nonprofit organization.”
An interim director may be sought, said DKI, but two of its board members suggested they intend to replace Naumann with another full-time employee.
“It goes back to the downtown strategic redevelopment plan,” said Paul McDonough, a downtown property owner and vice chairman of DKI’s board of directors. “One of the top 10 recommendations was the creation of a full-time executive director position.
“The reason we (participate) in the Wisconsin Main Street Program is that it forces you to lay out goals and objectives. It keeps you on track. And, if you are going to be a part of the program, you are (required) to have a full-time director.”
Naumann’s accomplishments in his nearly two years in the role were significant, noted McDonough.
“We’re grateful for Chris,” he said. “We are in a much better place now than we were a year-and-a-half ago. He does a lot of behind-the-scenes work that people aren’t aware of. The metrics are better, and our vacancy rate is down. We have a lot of programs going (because of his efforts).”
“Chris was really great at organizing the volunteer groups,” said DKI board chairman Kevin Ervin, owner of Franks Diner, 508 58th St. “I know we are about to break a record for volunteer hours in downtown — something like 4,500 hours. He was really good at mobilizing our volunteer base and keeping them active and engaged. Everything from cleanups to the Ambassador program and helping organize our block parties and events that we put on.”
Not all were fans
While Naumann had a number of supporters, the operation of DKI, and especially its financial underpinning, annoyed several downtown business people.
A large chunk of the funds that support DKI come from a special tax levy in the Lakeshore Business Improvement District. BID tax funds were blended with contributions from the city of Kenosha, the county, the Kenosha Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Kenosha Area Business Alliance. The city and KABA have announced their decisions to end financial support for DKI for 2017. Read more: Kenosha News
Montgomery County Chamber employee recognized with scholarship
Isaac Rife, membership director with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, has received a Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (VACCE) Scholarship to the VACCE Institute.
“It was an honor to receive one of the scholarships given within the association,” said Rife.
“While I have been in chamber work for 18 months, I learn something new every time I attend one of the programs.
“I find myself using all of the tools from my Pamplin MBA, but the VACCE sessions allow me to see new ways of serving our chamber’s members.”
Terri Mitchell, board chair for the Montgomery County Chamber, said: “We are so pleased that a member of our chamber of commerce was one of four recipients this year to attend the 2017 VACCE Institute. ... [Isaac’s] enthusiasm, quick wit and desire to serve our members makes him a perfect candidate for this recognition.” Read more: Roanoke.com
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