Michigan West Coast Chamber president takes on national role
Jane Clark, president of the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce, is taking on a leadership role in her industry.
She was recently named to the board of directors of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Clark began her one-year term at the organization's annual convention early this month in Nashville, Tenn.
"I am incredibly humbled and look forward to learning from chamber professionals from all over world and providing support for chamber professionals that keep businesses thriving in their communities," said Clark, of the volunteer position, in a statement.
Founded in 1914, ACCE offers professional development opportunities and best practices through its publications, online education, conferences and networking. The organization represents 7,000 leaders from 1,300 chambers of commerce, including 93 of the top 100 U.S. metro areas.
Clark began her chamber career with the Holland Area Chamber of Commerce in 1990, and went on to become president in 2004.
That role evolved to president of the West Coast Chamber in 2012, when the Zeeland and Holland Area chambers merged. The chamber is accredited with Five Stars by the U.S. Chamber, a distinction earned by very few chambers across the country.
Clark is responsible for developing and implementing the chamber's multi-year strategic plan and yearly business plan. The chamber has more than 1,300 members representing 70,000 employees in the greater Holland and Zeeland area.
She is a former member of the board of directors of the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals and was named the Chamber Executive of the Year. She served as board chair of the National Association of Membership Development and served on the American Chamber of Commerce Executives board of directors.
Clark is a 1985 graduate of Indiana University and a graduate of the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Organization Management. Before joining the Holland Chamber, she was in fundraising for both Indiana University and the Grand Rapids Symphony. Clark and her husband, Robert, have two boys. Read more: M LIVE
Influence of teachers emphasis of chamber luncheon welcoming educators to local school districts
Teachers impact the future, changing and enriching the lives of children every day.
That message resounded repeatedly during Monday’s Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce New Teacher Luncheon at The Lighthouse restaurant that honored 99 teachers who recently joined the staffs at the Crown Point Community Schools, the Porter Township School Corp. and the Merrillville Community School Corp.
Some of the teachers have just completed their degrees, while others are experienced teachers who are new to the three public school systems. While some teach at the elementary level, others are secondary instructors teaching a variety of subjects including science, math and business. Special education teachers and social workers were also honored at the luncheon.
When Tyler Carter, franchise owner of Merrillville’s Chick-fil-A and luncheon chairman, asked the nearly 150 attendees how many stay in touch with teachers who influenced them, most of the guests raised their hands.
“When people are deciding to move to this area, what’s the first question they ask – What are the schools like?” Carter said. “This business community is here to support you ... to cheer you on.”
The new teacher luncheon started 40 years ago, hosted by the Merrillville Chamber of Commerce for the Merrillville public schools and Andrean, said Sue Reed, president/CEO of the Crossroads Chamber of Commerce, which has 670 business members from Michigan City through the Illinois south suburbs.
“When the Crossroads Chamber merged last year with the Winfield Chamber of Commerce, we added the Porter Township School Corp. to this luncheon,” Reed said.
“We support our public schools,” she said, adding she spoke out against charter schools when the schools were proposed in Merrillville. “Education is an economic driver.”
In their messages to the teachers, the three superintendents shared stories and encouragement. Read more: NWI Times
Jefferson chamber: Entries sought for Harry Potter Festival Lighted Parade
The Jefferson Chamber of Commerce is seeking parade entries for the Harry Potter Festival Lighted Parade scheduled to take place Oct. 20 in downtown Jefferson, starting at 6:30 p.m.
As the official start to the Harry Potter Festival, the parade will help set the stage for a magical weekend.
The Harry Potter Festival runs Oct. 20-22 and will include Harry Potter experiences at a number of venues throughout the City of Jefferson. Harry Potter fans can watch Live Wizard Chess, cheer for their team at the Quidditch Tournament, shop in the Festival Village and watch Harry Potter movies each night at the Jefferson Highway 18 Outdoor Theater. Spaces are limited for the parade. For a list of rules and a registration form, visit jeffersonchamberwi.com, or contact the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. Read more: Daily Union
BarringtonArea Chamber of Commerce Women’s Biz Net Hosted “Christmas in July” Food Drive
(Barrington, IL - 8/9/17) The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) Women’s Biz Net (WBN) Council hosted a successful “Christmas in July” Food Pantry Drive that gathered food, household and personal care items to benefit the local food pantries.
During July the WBN reached out to BACC members and the community to help stock the shelves at the Barrington and Cuba Township food pantries. The response was well received, resulting in a variety of important items to help local families in need. From canned and boxed goods to paper products and household supplies, the WBN Council delivered the items on August 3, along with monetary donations totaling $500.
The Barrington Township food pantry is available to qualifying Barrington Township residents, many of whom are seniors on a fixed income. Donations of non-perishable food items are always appreciated. For more information, visit www.barringtontownship.com.
The Cuba Township food pantry is available to any Cuba Township resident in need. Items from the pantry are available once a month, and in the summer fresh produce pick-up is available weekly from local gardeners. For more information, visit cubatownship.com.
The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Biz Net (WBN) is a network of women empowering women. WBN offers monthly meetings and programs that bring relevant topics, networking opportunities, and a forum for building relationships that can enhance your business aspirations and enrich your life. The group’s Mission Statement is: “To gather professional women to inspire, enrich, empower and benefit from the unique talents of extraordinary women!” WBN offers monthly meetings at lunch or breakfast.
Kernersville Chamber of Commerce 2017-2018 Community Guide
The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Community Guide is available at the Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Chris Comer and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
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.
Chamber partnership: Fort Campbell initiative gets funding
In the aftermath of a funding announcement for an initiative targeting Fort Campbell, Jason Vincent, executive director of the Pennyrile Area Development District, said he predicts positive results from the Fort Campbell Strong economic growth plan.
Officials recently received word that the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment has awarded a $1.7 million community adjustment assistance grant to PADD that will support Fort Campbell Strong and its efforts to reach out to the military post.
The Fort Campbell initiative includes a two-pronged approach, with most of the grant funding to be used to purchase equipment to enhance workforce development for three colleges in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Remaining funds will support the creation of a regional defense alliance to serve as a unified voice for matters involving the military post at local, state and national levels and to grow the numbers of soldiers seeking jobs with employers in the region after leaving the military.
Vincent said the total cost of the project is $2.2 million, including matching funding from the six Kentucky and Tennessee counties involved in the initiative.
In addition to Christian County, those six counties are Todd and Trigg counties in Kentucky and Montgomery, Stewart and Robertson counties in Tennessee.
Vincent said he thinks the equipment purchase will happen within the next six to eight months. The equipment will be utilized by Hopkinsville Community College in the local community and by the Tennessee College of Applied Technology and Austin Peay State University in neighboring Tennessee.
The defense alliance is in its formative stages, the director said, and is currently drafting bylaws and articles of incorporation. He said officials hope to have the bylaws adopted and the alliance put in place by the end of December. A board will then be created under the new bylaws, and the next step is to hire an executive director for the alliance, according to Vincent.
That new director should be in place by early next year.
“We just look forward to the successful completion of both phases of this,” Vincent said. “I think we’re going to see some positive results from this endeavor.”
He noted that the equipment phase of Fort Campbell Strong will be a one-time effort to enhance and expand advanced manufacturing education in the region.
Funding for the defense alliance will support the organization for two years, and officials are hopeful the alliance will then be sustained in the local community.
Plans for Fort Campbell Strong began coming together in 2015, prompted by the inactivation in 2014 of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade. That inactivation resulted in a loss of 2,500 soldiers at Fort Campbell, and the Office of Economic Adjustment approached the Christian County Chamber of Commerce about an economic diversification study and provided grant funds for it. Read more: Kentucky New Era
Arlington chamber: NOVA Regional Elected Leaders Summit
The Arlington Chamber is excited to co-host the Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit, featuring elected officials from across the region, including Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette, on Wednesday, September 6.
This one-of-a-kind event will offer Northern Virginia's business leaders the opportunity to learn about the economic climate in each jurisdiction, hear about new and ongoing initiatives aimed at bolstering economic growth, and discover how each jurisdiction in Northern Virginia can work together for the betterment of our regional economy.
To register and find more information, visit our website.
CDF interest: BankPlus growing quickly in Tupelo
In only two years, BankPlus has firmly established itself in Tupelo, where it has opened two offices, broken ground on a third location, cleared a lot for a fourth location and bought land for a downtown office.
Of the 12 financial institutions with a total of 42 offices in Lee County, BankPlus has the eighth-largest market share by deposits. According to the June 30, 2016 deposit market share report by the FDIC, which are the most recent statistics available, BankPlus had nearly $20 million in deposits, about 1 percent of the market.
By comparison, Renasant and BancorpSouth, both headquartered in Tupelo and among the top five largest banks in the state, own a combined 75 percent of the market.
But for BankPlus, it’s not necessarily about taking away marketshare as it is getting its share of a growing economy.
“Tupelo is well-known throughout the state for having strong community leadership in government and with the Community Development Foundation, and for working together to attract business and industry” said Bill Ray, the president and CEO of BankPlus. “It’s a really good economic environment. It’s a hub for retail and medical, and we saw it as an opportunity for future growth.” Read more: Daily Journal
The Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Community Guide is available at the Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Chris Comer and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
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.
Chamber partnership: Fort Campbell initiative gets funding
In the aftermath of a funding announcement for an initiative targeting Fort Campbell, Jason Vincent, executive director of the Pennyrile Area Development District, said he predicts positive results from the Fort Campbell Strong economic growth plan.
Officials recently received word that the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment has awarded a $1.7 million community adjustment assistance grant to PADD that will support Fort Campbell Strong and its efforts to reach out to the military post.
The Fort Campbell initiative includes a two-pronged approach, with most of the grant funding to be used to purchase equipment to enhance workforce development for three colleges in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Remaining funds will support the creation of a regional defense alliance to serve as a unified voice for matters involving the military post at local, state and national levels and to grow the numbers of soldiers seeking jobs with employers in the region after leaving the military.
Vincent said the total cost of the project is $2.2 million, including matching funding from the six Kentucky and Tennessee counties involved in the initiative.
In addition to Christian County, those six counties are Todd and Trigg counties in Kentucky and Montgomery, Stewart and Robertson counties in Tennessee.
Vincent said he thinks the equipment purchase will happen within the next six to eight months. The equipment will be utilized by Hopkinsville Community College in the local community and by the Tennessee College of Applied Technology and Austin Peay State University in neighboring Tennessee.
The defense alliance is in its formative stages, the director said, and is currently drafting bylaws and articles of incorporation. He said officials hope to have the bylaws adopted and the alliance put in place by the end of December. A board will then be created under the new bylaws, and the next step is to hire an executive director for the alliance, according to Vincent.
That new director should be in place by early next year.
“We just look forward to the successful completion of both phases of this,” Vincent said. “I think we’re going to see some positive results from this endeavor.”
He noted that the equipment phase of Fort Campbell Strong will be a one-time effort to enhance and expand advanced manufacturing education in the region.
Funding for the defense alliance will support the organization for two years, and officials are hopeful the alliance will then be sustained in the local community.
Plans for Fort Campbell Strong began coming together in 2015, prompted by the inactivation in 2014 of the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade. That inactivation resulted in a loss of 2,500 soldiers at Fort Campbell, and the Office of Economic Adjustment approached the Christian County Chamber of Commerce about an economic diversification study and provided grant funds for it. Read more: Kentucky New Era
Arlington chamber: NOVA Regional Elected Leaders Summit
The Arlington Chamber is excited to co-host the Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit, featuring elected officials from across the region, including Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette, on Wednesday, September 6.
This one-of-a-kind event will offer Northern Virginia's business leaders the opportunity to learn about the economic climate in each jurisdiction, hear about new and ongoing initiatives aimed at bolstering economic growth, and discover how each jurisdiction in Northern Virginia can work together for the betterment of our regional economy.
To register and find more information, visit our website.
CDF interest: BankPlus growing quickly in Tupelo
In only two years, BankPlus has firmly established itself in Tupelo, where it has opened two offices, broken ground on a third location, cleared a lot for a fourth location and bought land for a downtown office.
Of the 12 financial institutions with a total of 42 offices in Lee County, BankPlus has the eighth-largest market share by deposits. According to the June 30, 2016 deposit market share report by the FDIC, which are the most recent statistics available, BankPlus had nearly $20 million in deposits, about 1 percent of the market.
By comparison, Renasant and BancorpSouth, both headquartered in Tupelo and among the top five largest banks in the state, own a combined 75 percent of the market.
But for BankPlus, it’s not necessarily about taking away marketshare as it is getting its share of a growing economy.
“Tupelo is well-known throughout the state for having strong community leadership in government and with the Community Development Foundation, and for working together to attract business and industry” said Bill Ray, the president and CEO of BankPlus. “It’s a really good economic environment. It’s a hub for retail and medical, and we saw it as an opportunity for future growth.” Read more: Daily Journal
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
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
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