Brent Cooper: Hotel tax was correct move by NKY leaders; Valpo chamber, Northwest Indiana SCORE to host online marketing workshop; #BestChamber practices: Rochester Regional Chamber: Ambassador Of The Month in your weekly newsletter: Lynn Marie Oates - Envoy Mortgage; Birmingham Bloomfield 2016-2017 Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide; Effingham Chamber Named As Finalist for Chamber of the Year Award; City of Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce 2016/2017 Community Map: Markussen represents La Crosse businesses at Foxconn hearing; Congressmen present update at Franklin-Southampton chamber event; Beth Kitchings Joins MEC Team as VP of Member Involvement; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Maps and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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


Brent Cooper: Hotel tax was correct move by NKY leaders

President Ronald Reagan once said this about leadership:

“A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets tough.”

The judge-executives and county commissioners of Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties have shown the type of unwavering leadership described by President Reagan through their unanimous support of an initiative that will provide funding for the planned expansion of the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.

The modest 1 percent increase in the region’s hotel tax – which by statute had to be approved by the fiscal courts in our three counties – will seed a capital fund that will ultimately be used to promote the entire region, as well as expand the 204,000-square-foot convention center in downtown Covington. The project will create jobs, bring visitors to hotels, restaurants, businesses and attractions throughout Northern Kentucky and allow our center to remain competitive with other cities and regions.

The business community recognizes the tremendous economic impact of Northern Kentucky’s travel and tourism industry, which continued to boom in 2016 by generating nearly $1.7 billion of total economic impact including $388 million spent by visitors to Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties.

The Northern Kentucky Convention Center is a major component of that success. Since opening in 1998, initial booking projections are up nearly 40 percent. The center’s 2,500 events have generated $1 billion in economic impact while directly supporting 350 hospitality-related jobs in the region. Read more: Cincinatti.com


Valpo chamber, Northwest Indiana SCORE to host online marketing workshop

Northwest Indiana SCORE, a Valparaiso-based business mentoring nonprofit with a satellite office in Munster, will host a workshop on online presence and online marketing Aug. 30.

The free one-hour workshop will take place at 9 a.m., Aug. 30 at the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce at 162 Lincolnway in downtown Valparaiso.
"Worried about getting found by local customers, want to be found everywhere on all devices, want to know how to be found with online advertising, want to learn how to measure your online success?" Northwest Indiana SCORE said in a statement.
Seth Spencer of SERA Solutions will discuss how to tailor a company's website for mobile and search, how to advertise on Google, how to use Google My Business, and how to use Google Analytics to grow the customer base. A copy of Spencer's slide presentation and complementary coffee will be provided to attendees.
Though the event is free, registration is required because seating at the chamber is limited. To register, visit northwestindiana.score.org. Read more: NWI Times

#BestChamber practices: Rochester Regional Chamber: Ambassador Of The Month in your weekly newsletter: Lynn Marie Oates - Envoy Mortgage

I am a lifelong resident of Rochester and committed to my community!

I am thrilled to be working in downtown Rochester at Envoy Mortgage as a Loan Officer.

The best part of my job is getting to help people into the home of their dreams! I love getting to know my clients and finding out what is best for them. Nothing could be more rewarding!

In addition to a career in my hometown, I also have a strong dedication to my community.

I currently serve on the Women's Fund Board as part of the Greater Rochester Community Foundation; Chairperson of the Rochester City Beautiful Commission, member and past president of the Rochester Junior Women's Club, Relay For Life of Greater Rochester leadership team and am an active volunteer for South Oakland Shelter.

Contact info:
(248) 218-0663
loates@envoymortgage.com




Birmingham Bloomfield 2016-2017 Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide 

The Birmingham-Bloomfield 2016-2017 Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide is available at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Joe Bauman and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

2016-2017 Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide

Town Square Publications  (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.

Effingham Chamber Named As Finalist for Chamber of the Year Award





The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce was recently named as a finalist for the 2017 Chamber of the Year Award from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. The Effingham County Chamber qualified in the Annual Revenue category with Des Moines Dowtown Chamber in Des Moines, Iowa and O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries in O’Fallon, Missouri. All finalists will be celebrated on July 18th in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Chamber of the Year Award is the only award in the nation that recognizes the role chambers have in their communities. Winners of the Chamber of the Year Award have shown impact on community priorities, including education, transportation, business development, and quality of life. To qualify for the Chamber of the Year Award, chambers must meet the criteria on the ACCE Annual Operations Survey and submit a written application that highlights all aspects of organizational and programmatic work. These applications are then scored by a peer chamber executive to choose the finalists. The winner is then selected following an in-person interview with a panel of chamber professionals.

Effingham County Chamber CEO and President, Norma Lansing stated, “Qualifying for this award during our Centennial Year has even more meaning for the Effingham County Chamber. It is due to the dedication of our Board of Directors, volunteer teams and Chamber professional staff that we have qualified for this prestigious award. Past Chamber Board Chairman Jeff Fritchtnitch and I will be traveling to Nashville to conduct the final phase of the selection process. This in-depth interview will focus on the Chamber’s strategic objectives and future focus”. More information: EffinghamRadio.com



City of Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce 2016/2017 Community Map

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!

City of Ridgeland Chamber Community Map

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. 

Markussen represents La Crosse businesses at Foxconn hearing


On Thursday, members of the public had the chance to weigh in on a $3 billion incentive package for Foxconn.

Along with members of the public, the Assembly Board of Jobs invited speakers to add perspective to the issue. One of the invited speakers was the Executive Director of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, Vicki Markussen.

Markussen said the atmosphere at the public hearing was positive with many speakers sharing pro Foxconn testimonies. She believes Foxconn will provide the job opportunities Wisconsin needs to be more competitive with surrounding states.

"Our area is known to lose talent particularly to Minneapolis. Well, this provides us the opportunity to keep them in Wisconsin, and that's good for Wisconsin," Markussen said. "My message yesterday was, 'What's good for Wisconsin is good for La Crosse.'"

Even though Foxconn will likely be built in the eastern side of Wisconsin, Markussen said it will generate revenue in the Coulee Region.

"Foxconn will have a ripple effect for our area," she said. "We do have some of our headquartered companies, obviously, with locations down on that side of the state. They fully believe that they will see the direct impact from Foxconn which of course ripples to our area because of those headquarters."

Markussen surveyed area businesses before going to the hearing. 109 business responded with 68-percent moderately or strongly in favor of the incentive package. Those businesses believe that without the package, Wisconsin could lose Foxconn and the revenue and jobs it would bring. Read more: WXOW.com

Congressmen present update at Franklin-Southampton chamber event

A visit from area congressmen and participation in a survey about Virginia’s economic future were the subjects for the Blueprint Virginia 2025 and Congressional Update on Wednesday afternoon. Presented by the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce in the Regional Workforce Development Center at Paul D. Camp Community College, the program began with remarks from Fourth District’s Don McEachin and Third District’s Bobby Scott, respectively.

McEachin touched on subjects such as a bipartisan approach to infrastructure reform and expanding internet broadband access in southside Virginia. Money to rebuild roads, bridges, water and electrical lines could come from a general fund, he said, and the plan should not just be based on tax credits.

Making internet more accessible benefits both students who can stay at home for research, as well as businesses that need it to serve customers. This September, McEachin will be looking into getting grants for internet expansion purposes.

Transportation is another issue, and the congressman asked guests to identify their needs and contact him. He added that a second district office is opening in Suffolk beginning with an open house on Tuesday, Aug. 22, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. This will be located at 131 N. Saratoga St., Suite B, in Downtown Suffolk.

Scott noted that this year is his first in representing Franklin. Court-ordered border changes last year expanded his coverage, which also includes Isle of Wight and the northern half of Suffolk.

The congressman expressed his concern about President Trump’s proposed budget cuts, such as the 21 percent each in the departments of labor and agriculture. Scott noted that there are increases for the military, which could benefit this region, he did ask “what mechanism is going to pay for it?”

He also acknowledged that while there are still some problems with the Affordable Care Act, the other proposed alternatives feature an increase in health care costs and that “10s of millions of people would lose coverage.”

He suggested that Medicaid could be expanded, and that it was a mistake that the General Assembly did not do so.

Following his remarks and answering some questions — McEachin had to leave early — Barry DuVal called on the guests to participate using their smartphones in an online survey, Blueprint Virginia 2025. Read more: Tidewater News

Beth Kitchings Joins MEC Team as VP of Member Involvement

The Mississippi Economic Council recently named Beth Kitchings as Vice President of Member Involvement.

As Vice President of Member Involvement, Kitchings leads a team responsible for growing, engaging and retaining the membership base of the state’s chamber of commerce.

She comes to MEC with more than 25 years of sales, marketing, and communications experience with organizations and clients in the healthcare, education, financial services, manufacturing, and tourism industries.

Kitchings has spent the past 12 years at the Ramey Agency managing a variety of accounts such as Viking Range, Bank of the Ozarks, BankPlus, The University of Mississippi, and TCI. Her previous work experience has exposed her to many different vertical markets and the issues that impact them, allowing for an understanding of how to better serve MEC’s membership and potential members.

Kitchings currently serves CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Mississippi as Board President and is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Jackson. She holds a degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Mississippi. Beth and her husband, Taylor, parents to grown children, are both native Mississippians and live in Ridgeland. They are members of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral.

“We are extremely excited to have Beth on board,” said MEC Interim President & CEO Scott Waller. “She brings great experience and passion to her new role, and is an excellent addition to our team.” Source: Mississippi Economic Council

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Maps 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