Kyle Hannon: Chamber’s Third House brings state legislature to the people; Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber: 30 Ways to Grow Your List; Barrington Area Chamber Announces 2017 Business Awards and New Leadership; SHINE employees taking a shine to downtown Janesville; Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce 2016-2017 Community Guide & Membership Directory; Hillsdale Chamber establishes tourism division; 75th Anniversary --- Annual Marion County Chamber Awards Banquet; Get Your Tickets to the 93rd Annual Arlington Business Gala; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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

Kyle Hannon: Chamber’s Third House brings state legislature to the people

The Indiana General Assembly is at work, which makes a lot of people nervous and a lot of Chambers of Commerce excited. For the same reasons.

Many people are uneasy whenever government is in action. In a time-honored and mildly amusing joke, somebody says, “I’m from the government. I’m here to help.” The understood punch line is that government programs always have unintended consequences and do more harm than good.

Fortunately, that is not always true. In fact, I would say usually government programs can help communities, if they are done right.

That’s why Chambers get excited. Every Chamber of Commerce in the state, large and small, is involved in some kind of advocacy. We build relationships and trust with government officials to build a better business climate. We believe, as do many of our lawmakers, that a business climate that provides good jobs provides a strong community. Now that everybody is in agreement on what to do, let’s move forward.

Well, it’s not quite that simple. There are a lot of other interests out there. In fact, everybody has a special interest group, whether they know it or not. If you don’t believe me, take a look at all the official lobbyist organizations filed with the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission. Sometime these groups have different opinions from your friendly neighborhood Chamber of Commerce. Unbelievable but true.

That’s OK. The Chambers work to provide information, hoping that the better ideas and opportunities become clear. Surprisingly, we even provide an opportunity for the opposition to show up in our building and talk to the lawmakers we invited. Read more: South Bend Daily News



Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber: 30 Ways to Grow Your List

Complimentary Business Seminar
Chamber of Commerce Board Room
Wednesday, January 25th, 2017
10am to 12 noon

Let's get Back to Business!  (School is back in session and we are all returning from our vacations!) It's time to grow your contact list!

Join us for "30 Ways to Grow Your List" workshop - you'll leave with ideas and strategies to capture new contacts, grow your list and take action to help move your business forward.

Having an interested and qualified list of contacts that you can stay top of mind with is vital to every business. Continuing to grow that list is just as important. In this workshop we will show you 30 easy ways to grow your contact list today!

We will cover:

* Why someone should join your contact list and what's in it for them

* How to ask people to join your list "face-to-face"

* How to use social media to grow your list

* How to grow your list on your website or blog

* How to use print material to get people to sign up

* How to use events to help grow your list

* How to use incentives and giveaways to grow your list 

Plus, you'll have a chance to network with other attendees and grow your contact list, live during the workshop!

NOTE: You don't need to bring a laptop, though you are welcome to for note taking. 

If you'd like to get a head-start before attending this workshop sign-up for a FREE 60-day trial account to start your marketing campaign today!

Barrington Area Chamber Announces 2017 Business Awards and New Leadership

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) announced its 2017 business awards at its Annual Dinner & Scholarship Fundraiser on Thursday, January 19 at The Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre. The evening was a celebration of Chamber accomplishments and people. It attracted nearly 200 local business, community and governmental leaders. The event also raised funds for the Chamber's annual scholarships. "Tonight I would like to introduce you to the people who are helping us create a climate of inspiration, opportunity and excellence that keeps business strong and our communities vibrant," said 2017 new BACC Chairman of the Board Liz Luby, of 365Barrington.com and @properties|The Luby Group. Luby then officially announced the following 2017 BACC Awards: BACC Hospitality of the Year Award: McGonigal's Pub "McGonigal's Pub is a popular meeting place where you always know someone and both locals and visitors find refuge. Known for its neighborly ambiance, fine Irish food and fantastic selection of spirits and draft beers, it's a community favorite for fundraisers that support charitable, passionate and important causes." Luby said. Community Partner of the Year Recipient: JourneyCare "As the largest nonprofit provider of hospice and palliative care in Illinois, JourneyCare has helped thousands of families who transition through the grief, loss and pain of watching a loved one suffer from a serious or terminal illness." said Luby "They partner with an army of compassionate volunteers from the communities they serve to help patients live fully, with dignity, without pain, and on their own terms. Their presence here brings heart and soul to our region." New Business of the Year Recipient: The Windy City Bulls "The Windy City Bulls, a professional development league for our own Chicago Bulls, joined our community with a mission to bring families together to enjoy a favorite pastime - basketball. Their efforts to engage community groups, create an activity for quality family time, and give back to the communities they serve have made them a local champion." Luby said. Earlier in the evening the 2017 Board of Directors was officially inducted. "Each year our Board sets the tone and direction for the Chamber and business community," said BACC President/CEO Suzanne Corr. "We are fortunate to have leaders representing a cross section of industry to guide and inspire us each year." The BACC Board includes: Executive Committee Members: Liz Luby, @Properties |The Luby Group, 365Barrington.com-Chairman; Tom Cramer, Wintrust Mortgage-First Vice Chairman - Membership; Dennis Kelly, FGMK Insurance, Inc.-Second Vice Chairman-Events; Charlotte Neault, Barrington Bank & Trust Co., N.A. - Treasurer; and Past Chairman Patty Jacobsen, Jensen, Jacobsen & Associates, Inc. 2017 BACC Directors include: Lisa Caputo, Morgan Stanley - The Schirmann Group; Joseph Connelly, BMO Harris Bank; Steve Cook, Quintessential Media Group; Liz Donofrio, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital; Keith Hanson, Hanson Law Group, LLP; Andrea Herran, Focus HR Consulting; Paul Horcher, Refined Construction; John Jackson, 4ci Mgmt-Balancing Life's Challenges; Dr. Reinhold Llerena, AMITA Health Medical Group; Doug McAllister, Douglas Automotive Inc.; Bryan McGonigal, McGonigal's Pub; Jennifer Prell, Paxem/Elderwerks; Scott Ray, Daily Herald Media Group; Barry Schimmel, Microshare Intl LLC.; and Edmund Tobias, Tobias Family Dentistry. The BACC Board also includes Advisory Board Members: Peg Blanchard, Village of Barrington; Brian Harris, Barrington 220 School District, Terry Jennings, Barrington Park District; Joyce Palmquist, Barrington Area Council on Aging; and Detlev Pansch, Barrington Area Library. For more information, contact Suzanne Corr, President, BACC, 847-381-2525 or email suzanne@barringtonchamber.com

SHINE employees taking a shine to downtown Janesville

There are no space-age particle accelerators humming away in SHINE Medical Technologies' corporate headquarters on the sixth-floor suite of Prospect 101 in downtown Janesville.

Nor will there be.

That equipment is for later at SHINE's future medical radioisotope facility on Janesville's far south end.

But the 35 or so SHINE employees who staff SHINE's newly renovated corporate offices downtown say they're finding their newly renovated office space, with sweeping views of the Rock River, a comfortable fit.

The view should inspire as SHINE engineers and planners work to meet a goal of breaking ground this year on a $100 million medical radioisotope production plant just east of the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport.

“We've got one of the best views in the city up here,” SHINE CEO Greg Piefer said at a community meet-and-greet Monday, during which SHINE employees met local residents and city officials at the company's new offices at Prospect 101.

Piefer said the company has been working to hire a full staff of nuclear engineers and other technical staff to put together final designs to construct the 57,000-square-foot facility.

SHINE already won approval from federal nuclear regulators to build the facility in Janesville, and SHINE said as recently as December 2016 that it intended to break ground in the first quarter of 2017 and be producing molybdenum 99 by the end of 2019.

The project still awaits an operating license, which is a separate part of federal regulatory review. But construction of the facility—which will use particle accelerators and low-enriched uranium in production—can move ahead pending that review.

SHINE Vice President Katrina Pitas told The Gazette on Monday that SHINE still plans to break ground this year, and “possibly” still by this spring.

In a brief address to visitors Monday, Piefer did not give an exact update on the timeline for the project. He only said he hopes it will break ground soon.

“Hopefully, we'll be building on site soon, within the next year or so,” Piefer said

That site is where SHINE would eventually produce radioisotopes the company says would fulfill an emerging domestic and global demand for moly-99, which is used to light up bone and tissue in thousands of medical imaging tests daily.

The staff at Prospect 101, which the company said could grow to 60 over the next year, would work on the facility plans and on launching the company into future production.

Abbey Donahue began working for SHINE as a systems integration engineer in October. Donahue, a nuclear engineer who moved here from Washington, D.C., will work to help the SHINE facility's equipment make the jump from design to production.

Donahue is one of a handful of new employees SHINE has added as it gears up to break ground in Janesville.

“We're creating a little nuclear engineering empire here,” Donahue said. “It's super-cool.”

Engineer Steve Miltenberger, who SHINE hired about a month ago, is overseeing the construction's schedule, costs and scope. He has worked on several nuclear production projects in the U.S. in the past and comes to Janesville after spending more than a year on a project in England.

He rented an apartment in Janesville, and he enjoys the “hometown atmosphere” of working in downtown Janesville.

Donahue said she's thrilled to get out of the daily traffic crush in D.C.

Local stakeholders are eager to see SHINE's production facility completed. SHINE has said it would eventually employ 150 at the production facility, and the positions there would represent high-paying, skilled jobs.

SHINE's future facility is being partly funded through federal grants and a city of Janesville development agreement. SHINE moved its offices from Monona to downtown Janesville late last year as part of TIF agreement by Prospect 101's owner to renovate the building's top floor for a long-term tenant.

Monday night, Forward Janesville held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at SHINE's downtown headquarters to welcome the company.

Forward Janesville President John Beckord lauded SHINE's move to Janesville, but his short welcoming address carried an inquisitive edge. Read more: GazetteExtra



Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce 2016-2017 Community Guide & Membership Directory

The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce 2016-2017 Community Profile & Membership Directory is available at the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber today! Thanks to Pam Swain, Rosie Vassalo 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.

Hillsdale Chamber establishes tourism division


In an effort to market Hillsdale County to visitors, the Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce has developed a tourism division.

"We are ecstatic about our new division and look forward to working with our local businesses and organizations to promote Hillsdale County as a tourism destination," said Rachel O'Heran, director of tourism and business development.

For 2017 O'Heran said her goal is to implement a strategic marketing strategy that will utilize a range of print, web, and radio advertising targeting visitors within a two hour radius.

She said in the past, there hasn't been a cohesive marketing strategy that advocates or articulates Hillsdale County as a tourism destination.

The tourism division's logo "Hello Hillsdale County!" pinpoints Hillsdale County as a destination. The division is also plugged into social media with an Instagram and Facebook page. The division's website is www.hellohillsdalecounty.com. Photos can be uploaded to Instagram with the hashtag #hellohillsdalecounty.

The development of the tourism division comes after a successful 2016 at the chamber. Read more: Hillsdale Daily News

75th Anniversary --- Annual Marion County Chamber Awards Banquet

The Marion County Chamber of Commerce’s 75th Anniversary Annual Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, Jan. 26, at Centre Square in Lebanon. The social begins at 6 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. The cost of the event is $25 per person. Invitations have been mailed to all chamber members but everyone is invited to attend. Please RSVP by Friday, Jan. 20, by calling the chamber office at 270-692-9594 or email info@MarionCountyKyChamber.com. Complete information is available at the chamber website MarionCountyKyChamber.com.



Get Your Tickets to the 93rd Annual Arlington Business Gala

Time is running out to get your ticket to the 93rd Annual Arlington Business Gala! Get ready to put on your dancing shoes and prepare for an evening of mixing and mingling with friends and fellow business leaders. A celebration of the Arlington business community, the Gala is the largest and most prestigious Chamber event of the year and will be held this Saturday, January 28 at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City.

Get your ticket today to secure your spot at Arlington's Best Night Out! For questions regarding registration, contact Hannah Dannenfelser at chamber@arlingtonchamber.org or (703) 525-2400.

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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 Chamber Proposal