Chamber Executive Mississippi Professional Digest
February, 2016
Nuria Arias recognized as one of
the top CEO’s in Mississippi for her work for Picayune
Nuria Arias, executive director of the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce, was recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal as one of the 2017 Top CEOs in Mississippi for her contributions to the city of Picayune.
The Mississippi Business Journal recognizes leaders around the state each year. These people demonstrate excellence amid top executives in their field and achieve growth as well as success for their companies while making a profound impact in their community, the Mississippi Business Journal states.
“In the past, I have received other awards, but this one means a lot,” Arias said. “I have done lots of things in Louisiana and other places while working former jobs, but not for the beautiful city of Picayune, so being recognized for the work I do for the city I live in is really special.”
Arias has lived in Picayune with her husband Oscar Arias and two daughters—Marycruz and Camila—since 2002 and is proud to call Picayune home, she said.
Nuria Arias said she sees this recognition as an extension of the support, work and leadership of her past and current Board of Directors and is hopeful that the award will highlight the caliber of professionals Picayune possesses.
“It feels good knowing I am making a difference in the city I live in. I don’t see winning this award as a professional achievement, but more as a personal achievement because I am helping out my community and doing what I love,” she said.
Nuria Arias said her goal for 2017 as executive director of the Chamber is to work with city, community and business leaders in an effort to help Picayune grow.
Recipients will be honored on Thursday January 26, 2017 at The Old Capitol Hill Inn in Jackson from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Read more: Picayune Item
Inaugural Landscaping Camp Will
Help Oxonians Beautify Their Yards
The Oxford-Lafayette County
Chamber of Commerce along with the Economic Development Foundation are hosting
the “inaugural” Landscaping Camp here in Oxford in late May as part of the
Retirement Attraction Program. The unique event has begun attracting interest
from all across the United States.
HottyToddy.com: Please
share with us, first, the exact dates and cost.
Oxford
Chamber: The Landscaping Camp will take place on May 26, 27 and 28.
We have an Early Bird special going on now for $300 through January 31, after
that the cost will be $375. The cost does not include accommodations; however,
we are excited to have The Inn at Ole Miss as our host hotel, where the camp
will be held. In addition, if one doesn’t have a place to stay in Oxford they
can make reservations with the Inn at Ole Miss at a discounted rate by calling
1-888-486-7666.
HottyToddy.com: What
are the deliverables for the attendees?
Oxford Chamber: During this two-and-a-half day camp each participant will receive two books written by Jeff McManus at the Opening Dinner/Book Signing. Among activities, one will be able to immerse themselves on a tour of the beautiful Ole Miss campus, learn some great practices from industry leaders, attend educational seminars on how to prune your shrubs, including choosing the right time, as well as growing gardens, attracting birds plus receive timesaving tips for a low maintenance yard and network in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. To top it off, three tours will also take place en route via the famous Double Decker Bus to the stunning landscaped homes of Dickie and Dianne Scruggs and Sam and Mary Haskell, which are both inspired by McManus, as well as a tour of the beautiful and historical City of Oxford.
HottyToddy.com: Jeff
McManus is apparently playing a key role.
Oxford
Chamber: Absolutely! He loved the idea and has jumped on board with
excitement and great ideas to make this event a must to attend.
HottyToddy.com: You
have already attracted some key sponsors.
Oxford
Chamber: We are thrilled to announce our key sponsors, which
include The City of Oxford, The University of Mississippi, MaxxSouth Broadband,
Rebel Realty and Property Management LLC, The Inn at Ole Miss, Stages
Mississippi Magazine and HottyToddy.com. We’re currently looking for
Hospitality Sponsors to help us make our guests’ visit even more memorable. The
cost of a Hospitality Sponsor is $400. Their logos will be showcased on a
“Welcome Banner,” as well as be listed in our program. Read more: HottyToddy.com
Lisa
James named Columbus-Lowndes Chamber president
Lisa James is the new president of the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of
Commerce.
Leadership with the Golden Triangle Development LINK, which
oversees the Chamber, announced today it had removed the interim tag from
James' title, offering her the permanent position.
James, 23, took over as interim president in August after her
predecessor, Joey Bragg, abruptly resigned his post. She first joined the
chamber in December 2015 as programs and events coordinator.
"We're excited about the potential for new growth and
innovative programming from the Chamber staffers," said Golden Triangle
Development LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins. "They bring energy and initiative to
the organization, and I'm confident that they'll take the Chamber to a new
level."
As Chamber president, James' salary will be $45,000 annually. The
Chamber is funded through membership dues and a 2-percent city tourism tax.
In her new role, James said she will focus on growing the
organization's membership with the goal of doubling it to 1,000 businesses and
individuals.
Part of that recruitment effort, she said, involves making sure
members get the most for their annual dues and that the Chamber better communicates
member benefits.
"Membership (recruitment) has been neglected," she said.
"We want to grow a more diversified, well-rounded organization. Because
the bigger we are, the stronger we are and the more resources we have at our
disposal.
"I'm basically just going to start by cold-calling
people," she later added. "If you're not a member, watch out. I'm
coming for you." Read more: The Dispatch
EMBDC leader
emphasizes team approach to attract businesses
The Meridian Star
invited some community leaders to identify their priorities for 2017. The
following interview is with Bill Hannah, president and CEO of East Mississippi
Business and Development Corporation.
Don’t blame East
Mississippi Business Development Corporation President and CEO Bill Hannah if
he uses the term “the Tupelo model,” when referring to his vision for East
Central Mississippi.
Hannah celebrated one
of his first major victories this year when it was announced that Raytheon
Company had chosen Meridian to build new training jets for the U.S. Air Force —
that is if the company is awarded the contract as they are competing with three
other companies for that jewel.
Part of Hannah’s
delight in the possibility of Raytheon coming to Meridian is the announcement
shows that some of his hard work for the last year and a half is finally
starting to pay dividends.
When asked about his
top three priorities for 2017, Hannah pointed the recent Raytheon announcement
as an example of what he is trying to accomplish in Meridian.
“We want to be a more
inclusive organization,” Hannah said. “There are 15 members on the EMBDC board
of directors and I can tell you that it takes a whole lot more than 15 people
to get a big project done like Raytheon. When we had Raytheon in town, we had
27 people in the room. I feel like I had every aspect of the community
represented in the room. When you bring someone into town, it looks more full
and complete to them when you have more people included. It gives them a flavor
of the area and that flavor is not just me.”
Hannah said it has
taken a lot of time and effort to start bringing community leaders together to
make “inclusiveness” happen.
“For this to be
successful, it takes the leaders in this community working together, knowing
each other,” Hannah said. “They may work in the next building to someone but
not know them. It’s my job to get them all in a room and get them to talk, to
present our community wholistically. That’s what inclusive means to me.” Read
more: Meridian Star
Chamber
supporter: Natchez Brewing company prepares for big expansion
The
Natchez Brewing Company is making a beer run — or move —to a larger building
where it plans to increase its production by 10 times.
“We
can’t make enough beer right now to sustain demand,” said Lisa Miller, who
co-owns and operates the company with her husband, Pat. The nearly 3-year-old
brewing company is moving from its Franklin Street location into a larger
warehouse, located at the corner of High and Canal streets to keep up with
sales.
The
couple is selling most of their current brewing system, which includes Öve
100-gallon fermenting vats. When they start brewing at the new location in
January, they will be using six 1,000-gallon vats. The new location will
continue to sell the brewing company’s merchandise. Tours of the new brew house
will also be available.
The
Millers moved to Vidalia in 2012 after living in Asheville, N.C., which Miller
said is a known craft beer haven. “It’s a huge beer city,” she said. When her
husband started home-brewing his own beer, the couple had the idea to start a
business near his hometown.
With the
exception of Lazy Magnolia, which was established in 2003, the vast majority of
in-state breweries started Ölling beer pitchers after 2012 because of a
craft-beer bill signed into law that year. Once it was legal to make beer with
more than 5 percent alcohol, manufacture it and sell it outside the state, the
industry grew. Brewers in Mississippi produced more than 18,000 barrels of beer
in 2013, a 25 percent increase from the year before, according to the
Mississippi Brewers Guild’s website. Miller said Natchez Brewing was the only
other craft beer brewer in the area competing with Lazy Magnolia Brewery when
they opened.
Currently,
there are more than 13 established Mississippi brewing companies. The closest
Mississippi breweries to Natchez are more than 100 miles away on the Gulf
Coast.
Miller
said Natchez Brewing hopes to branch out to larger markets in New Orleans and
Baton Rouge as well as Tennessee.
Natchez–Adams
County Chamber of Commerce President Debbie Hudson said she is glad to see
young professionals like the Millers succeed in business. “I’m glad that
they’ve had growth,” Hudson said. “We want to keep that going,” Hudson said in
a small town, having a brewery, a distillery and a winery makes the community
more interesting to prospective entrepreneurs. She said it is also a great way
to attract tourists to the area. Read more: Natchez Democrat
Mississippi governor:
School funding formula ‘a 1992 model’
Republican Gov. Phil Bryant told business leaders
Thursday that it’s time to update Mississippi’s school funding formula because
the current one is an outdated “1992 model.”
“With three years left in this second term, I
understand it’s critically important that we get things done — a good education
system,” Bryant said.
He spoke to several hundred people at an event
sponsored by Mississippi Economic Council, the state chamber of commerce.
The current school funding formula, the Mississippi
Adequate Education Program, was put into law in 1997 and phased in over several
years. It was enacted by a Democratic-controlled Legislature over the veto of
then-Gov. Kirk Fordice, a fiscally conservative Republican and a political
mentor to Bryant.
The formula was designed to give schools enough money
to meet midlevel academic standards, but it has been fully funded only twice in
20 years.
The shortfall in funding, under both Democratic and
Republican administrations, has been a constant source of conflict. Education
advocates say elected officials are making empty promises to help schools,
while many legislative leaders say fully funding MAEP would lead to deep budget
cuts for other state government programs.
Republican legislative leaders hired a New
Jersey-based consulting group, EdBuild, to suggest revisions to the formula.
Any changes would have to be approved by a simple majority of the House and
Senate. The GOP holds a three-fifths majority in both chambers — more than
enough votes to approve a new plan. EdBuild has not submitted its
recommendations.
“Now, I know there are those out there
that say, ‘Oh, this is a terrible plot again and they’re just trying to do
something to harm public education.’ Nothing could be further than the truth,”
Bryant said Thursday. “That is a 1992 model. If we were all giving our highway
patrolmen 1992 Chevrolet Impalas, you might think we were a little disturbed.”
Read more: Hattiesburg American
DeSoto, Rankin,
Madison, Lamar, Union, Lafayette County have the lowest jobless rates in
Mississippi
Lafayette
County continues to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in Mississippi
and remains below the national average. The 4.1 percent jobless rate in
Lafayette County for November is more than a percentage point below the state
average of 5.2 percent and slightly below the 4.4 percent national average.
The
state October rate was 5.7 percent.
The
Mississippi Department of Employment Security provided the most recent figures.
Local
officials are pleased with the job growth numbers.
“Lafayette
County not only has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state, but also
the highest rate of growth, third highest average annual wage and some of the
highest growth in manufacturing jobs,” said Jon Maynard, president and CEO of
the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation and Chamber of
Commerce. “We are doing a lot of things right in Lafayette County when it comes
to true economic development.”
According
to the MDES, the state unemployment rate is the lowest in 12 years. The state
jobless rate fell two-tenths of a percentage point from October and was the
lowest rate since February of 2004. A year ago, the state rate was 6.6 percent.
Read more: Oxford Eagle
#BestChamber practices: City of
Ridgeland MS Chamber - Free Member Online Services
NEW ONLINE SERVICES ~ Chamber members visit www.ridgelandchamber.com and LOGIN to Members Only to take
advantage of new online services offered by the Chamber. Post NEWS to our News Submission page; post an event to our Community Calendar; submit a JOB OPENING for your business. All at NO CHARGE! Contact us if you need
assistance with Mem #; LOGIN or PASSWORD info. admin@ridgelandchamber.com.
#BestChamber
Practices: Columbus Lowndes Chamber: Educators are Essential
Teachers:
More information: Columnus Lowndes Chamber of Commerce
Jackson
County Chamber: Grants Available for Storefronts
The
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2017
Façade Grant Program. Façade Grants are due on April 7, 2017, at 5:00
p.m. for Chamber members with under 50 employees. There will be three
grants available for $2,500 each. The fund allows businesses to apply for
these grants through corporate contributions from companies that are interested
in the growth and development of the business community in Jackson
County. The Chamber is here to support community and business development
throughout Jackson County.
Companies
wishing to apply for upcoming grants from the Chamber must be active members of
the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Applications for these grants can
be found on the Chamber website (www.jcchamber.com). The deadline to
submit the grants electronically is April 7, 2017. Award recipients will
be announced at the Grand Finale and Business After Hours for the 2017
Community Business-to-Business Membership Drive in April.
Anyone
interested in learning more about this program or joining the Chamber to be
able to apply should contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at
228-762-3391 or newsletter@jcchamber.com. New members who join between
January 1st and March 31st are also eligible to be in a drawing for a
$1,250 Small Business Grant. New members can also apply for a free
outdoor booth at the Jackson County Industrial Trade Show on March 21st.
More information can be found online at www.jcchamber.com.
Chamber
interest: Brookhaven could be called Car Seekers Paradise
Car
buyers looking for a bang for their buck find all roads lead to Brookhaven.
Area
auto dealers say it’s the great location and their customer service that brings
shoppers to Lincoln County for vehicle purchases. And those shoppers already
living here don’t have to travel far for good deals.
“People
from Brookhaven and surrounding areas come here for the wide selection
available and lack of franchises in neighboring counties and towns,” said
Lavelle Sullivan of Sullivan Ford.
Brookhaven,
with a total population of about 12,500 people, is home to more than a dozen
auto sellers, with six dealerships specializing in the sale of new vehicles.
They’re mostly scattered along Brookway Boulevard and Hwy. 51, and all near
I-55, which makes it convenient for shoppers traveling from outside the area.
Garrick
Combs, executive director of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce,
remembers car shopping with his mom and dad when he was younger.
“Growing
up in western Franklin County as a child, my parents drove to Brookhaven to buy
all of their vehicles. The rest of my family and friends did the same,” he
said.
It
seems like that’s the trend.
Some
of those profits go back into the facilities to benefit the customers and into
the community that directly supports them. Read more: Daily Leader
#BestChamber Practices: Rankin County Chamber of Commerce: Member Benefits
The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce is working for YOU. The professional staff and volunteer board, made up of community leaders from throughout Rankin County, are promoting your business. There is a world of opportunity in the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce awaiting your business today!
FREE ADVERTISING
You will be listed on the Chamber Website at www.rankinchamber.com. Statistics show our website averages over 800 visits a day from people looking for places to shop, dine and stay in the area and local residents who want to know more about your business.
Your business is featured in MyChamberApp, a mobile directory built for the Chamber of Commerce community. MyChamberApp is available to download for free on the iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry.
Upon initial membership to the Chamber you will be listed as a new member in the monthly Chamber newsletter.
Our Corporate Sponsor Levels have been revamped and a 'Diamond Sponsor' level has been added. All sponsor levels are included in Chamber advertising, including our digital billboard campaigne!
ADDITIONAL ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
ONLY Chamber Members are allowed to insert flyers in the Chamber monthly newsletter. You can reach 1,000 businesses and over 3,500 customers for only $100 and a digital copy of your insert.
RIBBON CUTTINGS
We want to make your business a HUGE success. Let us help host a ribbon cutting for you, complete with GIANT scissors and a big, green bow. Your Grand Opening will be featured in area newspapers, on our website and through Social Media, In addition, fellow Chamber Members will come out and welcome your new business.
RANKIN CHAMBER 'WEEK AT A GLANCE' EMAIL BLAST
This condensed calendar is emailed to you each week to remind you of upcoming events and provides detailed information about Chamber functions. This is available only to Chamber members.
NETWORK OPPORTUNITIES
Ambassador Luncheons are held monthly at various chamber member restaurants throughout Rankin County allowing you to get to know the movers and shakers of Rankin County on a first name basis.
Dollars for Donuts is a great networking opportunity for early risers. This meeting is held quarterly at 8:00 am the last Friday of the month and offers additional networking opportunities.
YOUR BUSINESS ADVOCATE
Rankin County Chamber is a member of the Tri-County Council of Chambers.
We are always looking for ways to support you and your business.
In constant contact with elected officials in Rankin County and State Government.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Leadership Rankin is an annual program designed to develop leadership skills among the future leaders of Rankin County. Applications are accepted in July and the program runs through May.
The Ambassadors Committee serves as the public representatives of the Chamber. This group is a strong way to grow your business and make powerful business contacts.
Office Depot Discount Program offers cost savings, streamlined ordering and free next day delivery! More: Rankin County Chamber
2017
Priorities: MSU-Meridian looks to grow enrollment, strengthen partnerships
What a great year it
has been for MSU-Meridian!
Our enrollment is
growing as more students discover an opportunity to stay local, pay less, and
earn more. New partnerships with local community colleges make the transition
to MSU-Meridian more convenient than ever. Student enrollment for our Meridian
campuses increased by almost 6 percent for the Fall 2016 semester.
We formally opened the
newest MSU building in Meridian in October 2016. The Rosenbaum Building, on our
Riley Campus downtown, houses health sciences programs and our new Bulldog
Shop, where you can enjoy MSU dairy products and get the latest Adidas apparel.
The Riley Center for
Education and Performing Arts is celebrating 10 years of productions and
educational outreach, attracting more than 85,000 visitors and impacting the
local economy by $4.3 million. This center, and MSU faculty, led the way to
Meridian being selected for the prestigious Any Given Child program of the
Kennedy Center. We’re partnering with Meridian Public Schools, and our
community, to ensure every child has the opportunity to enjoy arts education.
As we look ahead to
2017, we will continue to focus on growing our enrollment for the Meridian
campuses through even stronger relationships with local community colleges.
These partnerships created office space on the campuses of Meridian Community
College, East Mississippi Community College, and East Central Community College
at which MSU staff members work with students daily. Efforts are underway to
expand partnership programs to include Jones Junior College. We will continue to
explore programs that make the transfer process easier to navigate and increase
the educational attainment of citizens of this region. Additionally, we will
explore ways to increase opportunities for graduate students.
We will continue to
partner with the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation and local
economic leaders to address educational needs that better prepare this region
to attract new industry. It has been rewarding to see our graduate students
assist small businesses in developing strategic plans, and it was invigorating
to participate in the process of attracting Raytheon. Read more: Meridian Star
Town
Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The
best in Mississippi.
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
Top Five Daily Postings in the last month at Midwest Chamber of Commerce
Daily News – click to go there or Google search “Midwest Chamber of Commerce
Daily”
|
Nov 8, 2016
|
190
|
|
Dec 21, 2016
|
180
|
|
Dec 26, 2016
|
139
|
|
Jan 4, 2017
|
127
|
|
Jan 5, 2017
|
125
|
Last Month’s Stories
Famous Chamber of
Commerce Quotations (Attitude)
The best way to cheer
yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. --- Mark Twain
Mississippi Economic Council
Tour: Locals agree on roads issue Daily
Corinthian - MEC Tour Locals agree on roads issue
Coastians bag deals on Black Friday, prepare to shop
local Saturday Sun Herald
The new City of
Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce 2016/2017 Community Map is available at the City of Ridgeland Chamber today! Thanks to Linda Bynum, Sandy Baas 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 guide or
publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman
at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
#BestChamber Practices: Area Development Partnership: Leadership
Pinebelt Area
Development Partnership
EMBDC, local merchants encourage shopping on
Terrific Thursdays WTOK.com
Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership: VISION 2022 - ONE VOICE ---
Update Greater
Jackson Chamber Partnership
#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations (Attitude)
“Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn.” –
Unknown
#BestChamber practices: Natchez-Adams County Chamber History on
Website Natchez-Adams
County Chamber
If you would like delivery
of a new gloss Chamber directory or gloss community map in June/July, 2017, please contact me at your
earliest convenience.
John
John Dussman | Chamber Manager
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media Group
155 E. Algonquin Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005
jdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media Group
155 E. Algonquin Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Do you have a story
idea?
If you know of a chamber news item that you would like to be included in the CHAMBER EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT or the MIDWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE blog, please email me at jdussman@tspubs.com or call me at (847)-427-4633. Thank you.
If you know of a chamber news item that you would like to be included in the CHAMBER EXECUTIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT or the MIDWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE blog, please email me at jdussman@tspubs.com or call me at (847)-427-4633. Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.