Tuesday, December 19, 2017

#FamousChamber Speaker: Bob Harris CAE, One of the Top Five Chamber Speakers of All Time; 1si's Dant Chesser elected chair of statewide economic development board; #BestChamber Practices: Aimee Thurber, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce: Year End Summary and Holiday Greeting note; The Green Lake County Chamber of Commerce Guide & Map; Manufacturing job fair brings hope and opportunity to job seekers; Boyle County: Making the pitch: Students pitch ideas to local business leaders; Numbers add up to good year for Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce; Numbers add up to good year for Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce; The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce promotions for Kelli Vanden Bosch And P.J. Lemanski; Town Square Chamber Publications: Valparaiso Chamber: Promises made, Promises kept!; Bryant turns dirt at new Oxford hotel groundbreaking ceremony; Leadership 21: SWCRC; Businesses Honored At Bay Area Chamber Of Commerce Event; 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!

#FamousChamber Speaker: Bob Harris CAE, One of the Top Five Chamber Speakers of All Time

Organizational Excellence - It starts with the heart - the PASSION of volunteers and staff to be great. Then the focus is on governance, operations, and strategy. Finally, finally mix in smart practices and benchmarks to ensure excellence. - Bob Harris, CAE - www.nonprofitcenter.com 




1si's Wendy Dant Chesser elected chair of statewide economic development board


Wendy Dant Chesser, president and CEO of One Southern Indiana, has been elected chair of the Indiana Economic Development Association board of directors.
Dant Chesser was previously vice chair and secretary of the board, as well as the chair and member-at-large for the organization's legislative committee.
"I'm very honored to be elected board chair of this prestigious organization," Dant Chesser said. "The IEDA is a fantastic organization that assists individuals, rural communities and metropolitan areas throughout Indiana as well as professionals who work within the economic development field."
IEDA, which turns 50 next year, is a statewide nonprofit organization that provides ongoing education to its members and opportunities to engage elected officials to promote business-friendly policies. The organization has about 400 members.
Dant Chesser has been CEO and president of 1SI, Clark and Floyd counties' economic development organization, since 2012. She was previously president of a similar organization in southwest Michigan called Cornerstone Alliance. She has also worked for the state of Indiana in various economic developments capacities, including her role as deputy executive director for program operations for the Indiana Department of Commerce. She is a Jeffersonville native.
Accolades include being named 2016 Chamber Executive of the Year by the Indiana Chamber Executives Association, one of North America's Top 50 Economic Developers of 2015 by Consultant Connect and 2000 Outstanding Young Hoosier Award from the Indiana Jaycees. Read more: News and Tribune


#BestChamber Practices: Aimee Thurber, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce: Year End Summary and Holiday Greeting note: 

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Happy Holidays from the GBCC!



Greetings!

On behalf of my staff, Board of Directors, and committees and councils here at the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce, I would like to extend a warm Happy Holidays and a joyous New Year to you and your family! Our Chamber offices will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25 and Tuesday, Dec. 26, and then Monday, January 1 and Tuesday, Jan 2 for New Years.

To close out the year, I want to send a sincere Thank You to YOU—our members, our volunteers, our ambassadors, our business and non-profit leaders, our corporate partners, and our community champions. 2017 has been a year of change, across the country and right here at home. We're so excited for the evolution we're experiencing at the Chamber, and we thank you for your continuous support and commitment as we move forward!

It has been a true privilege to come on board as the Executive Director for the Greater Beloit Chamber after serving the Chamber in other capacities for over 15 years, and to be able to expand my team to include our Business Advocate and our Community Concierge. Read more about them and our Board here!

We remain committed to fostering the continued evolution of economic development, business and workforce growth, and community and civic engagement in the Greater Beloit region. As a team, we service not just the City of Beloit but surrounding countywide and regional municipalities, and we will continue to advocate for YOU: our members in the Town of Beloit, the City of Beloit, the City of South Beloit, and the region, just as we have always done. I am proud to say that has been our mission for over 90 years, and will continue. We strongly believe that when one of us thrives, we all thrive, and we remain committed to maintaining regional partnerships for the betterment of all.

As we close out December, I wanted to share a few 2017 highlights:
We have put out a 2017 Member Survey--fill it out today! We want to hear from YOU. Tell us how we’re doing. This survey is for GBCC Members only, and the data collected will help us evolve our programming to better service our members.
We are undergoing a website revamp! Thanks to Resonate Web Marketing, we are currently working behind-the-scenes to bring you a new and improved GBCC home base!
Our 2018 Sponsorship opportunities have been released. Be sure and check them out here to see what options work best for you and your business or organization.
USA Today named Beloit-Janesville on the list of Top 25 Cities Adding the Most Jobs in 2017!
We’ve seen some amazing media coverage highlighting the incredible evolution Rock County and our region have undergone in the last few years, including the Ironworks Campus, and the incredible Irontek Business Incubator.
We closed out Year 1 of our Community Concierge program, and want to sincerely thank our investors, the Vision Partners, the companies that have utilized the service thus far, and of course Maggie Littlefield for her dedication in that role. Read more about what the service can do for employers & candidates!

I can't wait to see what 2018 will bring!

Most Sincerely & with Warmest Regards,
Aimee Thurner
Executive Director, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce


The Green Lake County Chamber of Commerce Guide & Map

The Green Lake County Chamber of Commerce  Guide & Map is available at the Green Lake County Chamber! Thanks to 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.


Manufacturing job fair brings hope and opportunity to job seekers

More than 225 people showed up at the Regional Center for Advanced Technology and Training in hopes of finding a new job.
A manufacturing job fair brought in 11 manufacturing companies from Danville and surrounding counties Wednesday afternoon. The companies were searching for workers to fill around 250 positions.
"I was currently working at a job for 10 years and it's kinda hard to find a job around the area because we really need more jobs around here to secure our families and everything else," job seeker Adrian Davis said. 
According to Davis, he worked for a manufacturing company in the area, but became unemployed in September.
David Daye, who recently moved back to Danville, said he came to the fair with hopes that he could land a better paying job or advance his career.
He said he's looking for any job that's paying.
"Right now I don't feel like I'm in no position as to pick and choose to what I will and what I won't do," Daye said.
Because of the fair, he has an interview set-up.
On the business side, Woodwick Candle is hiring for roughly 10 positions.
"We had the need, we are growing, we're busy and it was a perfect timing for us," Woodwick Candle Human Resources, Anne Goins, said.
Woodwick Candle said they are setting up interviews in January and are hoping to hire by January 31.
The job fair was coordinated by the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Danville Community College and the Virginia Workforce Center. Read more: WSET.com



Boyle County: Making the pitch: Students pitch ideas to local business leaders

Local business leaders heard pitches for making socks better for soccer players, launching T-shirt businesses, a new design for furniture and more on Thursday from entrepreneurial Boyle County High School students.
It’s the sixth year the for the program in the county, which began as the Young Entrepreneur Academy, said Boyle County Chamber of Commerce Director Paula Fowler. The chamber then took the program to the Boyle County High School, at the school’s request, and it was renamed the Entrepreneur Class at the school. The chamber provides business speakers and mentors.
David Christopher, who teaches the class at Boyle County High School, said it’s his favorite class, because it offers such an opportunity to work with the community.
“It’s community and education working the way it should be,” he said.
Prior to giving their pitches, students work with business mentors as they build their products and business plans. They also met with lawyers and accountants; worked on web design; and more as they progressed through the class. Read more: Advocate Messanger


Numbers add up to good year for Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce


Before food, attendees at Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development’s 106th annual dinner received some food for thought.
Joni Hunt, executive director for the chamber, gave a rundown of her chamber’s accomplishment’s over the past 12 months and thanked chamber members, employees and volunteers.
“Nobody is successful by themselves,” Hunt said, “Nobody.” Board members, volunteers and more were recognized during comments from Hunt and TJ Templeton, chamber president.
Templeton also presented the Volunteer of the Year Award to Danielle DeCarlo, who Templeton said, “was definitely the volunteer of the year.”
Hunt shared a number of statistics she said point to a successful organization.
The chamber added 52 members and had 71 events during the past year.
“That’s the most events that IVAC has held to date,” Hunt said.
Templeton also took note of the busy event calendar.
“It’s hard to believe that we have this many things going on,” Templeton said. “It really annoys me when people say there’s nothing to do in the Illinois Valley.”
Additionally, there were 35 ribbon cuttings, which Hunt said displayed a willingness to invest in the community. That’s also a 67-percent increase from last year.
A new website, ivaced.org, was launched in January, and Hunt said it attracted more than 76,000 visitors.
“This is a 70-percent increase from last year,” she said.
Member pages received a 122 percent increase in visitors, and Facebook likes increased by 104 percent.
Hunt said one ribbon cutting post reached 15,000 people, which proved the importance of a strong digital and social media push.
“You can’t do that alone,” she said. Read more: News Tribune

Midland Area Chamber: Cool Stuff to Share: Holiday Edition 



Cool Article 1: Small-Business Q&A: Use Digital Marketing to Bolster Holiday Shopping

How do I keep the momentum of Small Business Saturday going throughout the busy holiday shopping season without it being completely overwhelming?


Cool Article 2: Mom-and-Pop Shops Are Threatening the Mall This Holiday Season

Spending growth at mom-and-pop businesses has outpaced that of the big chains in the past two years, according to Sarah Quinlan, senior vice president at credit-card giant Mastercard Inc., which tracks purchasing patterns. When they're not shopping online, Americans are seeking more personal connections and advice -- something they view as lacking at national retailers.



The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce promotions for Kelli Vanden Bosch And P.J. Lemanski


The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Kelli Vanden Bosch as the new Director of Events and Media Relations. Kelli’s first signature event was Holiday Gala & Auction that took place on December 8th!
Kelli has been employed with the Chamber for three years as the Director of Small Business Development & Director of Certifications. In that time with the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce team she has devoted her efforts to serving and enhancing the Dearborn area. “We are delighted that Kelli & our staff are growing & providing even more value to our membership & area.” Jackie Lovejoy, President noted. “Kelli’s expertise, enthusiasm & attention to detail make her well suited for this role!”
Kelli brings a background of event management to her new role. Prior to joining the Chamber staff, Kelli served as event coordinator at the Dearborn Hills Golf Course, owned and operated by the City of Dearborn & was a Catering Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn. Vanden Bosch is a resident of Dearborn with her husband Curt and their 2 children, Harper & Hunter.
Vanden Bosch will work with the Chamber President Jackie Lovejoy and staff, along with the board of directors and embers, to engage Chamber members in significant membership outreach and signature events including the 21st Annual Alberta Muirhead Teacher of the Year Awards, Taste of Dearborn and other annual events and activities.
“It is an honor to take the position as Director of Events & Media Relations. I am enthusiastic and passionate about the Dearborn Area and the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce and look forward to driving creativity and excitement!”
For more information, please contact the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce by phone at 313-584-6100. Be sure to follow the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook at facebook.com/DearbornAreaChamber, on Twitter @DbnAreaChamber and online at www.dearbornareachamber.org for all the latest news and events.
The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce provides 600+ members with the opportunities and resources to engage and network with other businesses, enhancing financial growth, professional development, and the ability to contribute to a thriving community environment.
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The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Patrick Lemanski as the new Director of Small Business Development and Director of Certificates of Origin.
P.J. is joining the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce team after working as an intern on major projects summer 2017. With the chamber P.J. was directly involved in the management and execution for one of our largest events this summer the Taste of Dearborn, as we hosted over 1000 attendees during the strolling appetizer crawl. “His talent and drive were exemplary” commented Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce President Jackie Lovejoy. “We are delighted to have P.J. on board, his past experience and enthusiasm will contribute to our mission of growth, progress, and innovation. We love to surprise our members and the public with our events & offerings. P.J. will help contribute to the spirit of philanthropy and development that we deliver to our members and the community.”
Lemanski thoroughly enjoyed his internship and is excited for the opportunity to work with the chamber. “I am thrilled to have the chance to make an impact and to work in my field. I’m delighted to continue my commitment to non-profits and all the good they provide. The chamber and this great city have welcomed me once again!”
P.J. Lemanski is a Harper Woods, Michigan native and a Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant graduate. P.J.’s recent experience includes supervising and maintaining events in the city of Harper Woods for their Parks & Recreation department, and will bring those skills to his new position.
For more information, please contact the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce by phone at 313-584-6100. Be sure to follow the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook at facebook.com/DearbornAreaChamber, on Twitter @DbnAreaChamber and online at www.dearbornareachamber.org for all the latest news and events.

The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce provides 600+ members with the opportunities and resources to engage and network with other businesses, enhancing financial growth, professional development, and the ability to contribute to a thriving community.


Town Square Chamber Publications: Valparaiso Chamber: Promises made, Promises kept!



Note from the Valpo Chamber 

I want to thank you for an outstanding map which you produced for our Valpo Chamber.In my 43 years as a CEO in the Chamber Field, it was the smoothest project I have ever seen done. You made all the deadlines, your print quality and cartography was second to none. And of course you paid us in exactly the time frame you said you would so we could count the Royalty Check towards our current year revenue.

Life is very good when dealing with Town Square Publications.

You have the right of first refusal to do our next map. You are a great partner for our Chamber. We are living proof that a printed map is still very much in demand by both advertisers and consumers.

It would be my pleasure to recommend Town Square Publications as a firm Chambers and Tourism Bureaus should use when considering a printed Map or other print publications.


Rex G. Richards, CCE
President

Valpo Chamber of Commerce


Bryant turns dirt at new Oxford hotel groundbreaking ceremony



Charter Road Hospitality, headed by Chan Patel, has partnered with Hilton to build a 104-room Tru by Hilton hotel that will be located in front of Malco Oxford Commons Cinema and Premier Lanes.

On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Bryant, along with city and county leaders and citizens, gathered in front of the future site of Patel’s fifth hotel in Oxford for a groundbreaking ceremony.

With the hum of large machinery and the sounds of construction workers doing site work behind him, Bryant congratulated Patel and his father, MV Patel, and thanked them for their investment in Oxford and Mississippi.

“Here we are investing, growing, determined to make sure to add to the great team members who work with Charter Road Hospitality,” Bryant said.

Bryant said he attended a meeting Monday with the Mississippi Development Authority and an overseas company that was looking to locate in Mississippi and bring 150 jobs to the state.

“They wanted a large amount of incentives from the state of Mississippi, and I reminded them that I would be in Oxford today where this great Patel family has a 120 Mississippians working and, to the best of my knowledge, have never asked for anything from Mississippi but perhaps to have the governor come and help turn the first soil of a new development,” Bryant said. “We’re very proud of this $11 million investment.”

Tru by Hilton will bring the number of rooms in CRH’s hotels to 448 and the number of employees from 120 to about 150 after it’s opened.

Patel thanked his employees for all their hard work.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today if not for you,” he said.

Also speaking at the event was Jon Maynard, president and CEO Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation and Oxford Aldermen Ulysses “Coach” Howell. An invocation was given by Jimmie Smith, retired CRH team member. Read more: Oxford Eagle


Leadership 21: SWCRC

The Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber is proud to host a dynamic, and premier leadership program, training and developing our next generation of small business and community leaders in the Downriver region! Welcome class of 2018!


Mission:

To provide an intensive, dynamic leadership program that challenges, educates, and develops a diverse, select group of emerging small business, and organizational leaders in Southern Wayne County.

Purpose:

To prepare participants to lead with a vision, to affect a positive change in the community on a long-term basis, to interpret complex social and economic issues, and to establish a network of community leaders.

Benefits to Participants:

Increased awareness of important issues facing your community
Ideas for shaping the future of your community
Complimentary Admission to Chamber networking events

Benefits to Organizations:


Improved leadership skills
Improved ability to interact with other employees (teamwork)
Improved self-confidence resulting in more willingness to assume responsibility
Positively represent organization in the community

Issues to be Explored:

Private sector
Non-profit sector
Leadership
Economic Development Community Education
Government


Candidates:

A small group of individuals annually will participate in the program. They will represent a cross section of the community, including, but not limited to, business, government, education, civic groups, health service, and community organizations.

Selection Criteria:

Potential participants must demonstrate the following criteria:
Commitment and motivation to serve the Southern Wayne County area
Interest in seeking major volunteer and/or appointed leadership roles
Ability to set and attain personal goals resulting in achievement in his/her field
Experience and record of achievement in community activities which indicate potential leadership
Potential to shape policy and exert influence on critical issues facing the community
Availability of time to participate in Leadership 21 activities

Program:
A one-day orientation retreat is scheduled for October, 2017, followed by one session a month. A graduation banquet will be hosted in February or March, 2018.

Process:
Candidates are selected on their own merits from written applications submitted to the Leadership 21 Executive Committee.
Applications must be received by the committee by August 24, 2017
Applicants will be notified of acceptance by September, 2017
Those not selected for this year’s program are encouraged to apply again next year.


Requirements:

Participants must have the full commitment of their respective corporations or organizations. Attendance is expected at all sessions.

2017-2018 Meeting Dates (Subject to Change):

October, 2017 – Orientation
November, 2017 – Non-Profit Sector
January, 2018 – Private Sector
February, 2018 – Community Relations / Government
February/March, 2018 – Graduation
Tuition: $250 per person.

Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 734.284.6000, ext. 25 or email Rich@swcrc.com


Businesses Honored At Bay Area Chamber Of Commerce Event

Two long-time Bay Area Chamber of Commerce members and community pillars celebrating milestone anniversaries were honored at the organization' s Eye Opener Breakfast held on Friday, December 15, 2017, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bay City - Riverfront.

Herman Hiss & Company and The Bay City Players received proclamations honoring their 150 and 100 year anniversaries, respectively. Jacob Bennett, Deputy District Director for U.S. Representative Dan Kildee, State Senator Mike Green, State Representative Brian K. Elder and State Representative Gary Glenn presented the proclamations.

Eye Opener Breakfasts are held monthly and are open to the public. For more information, you may call the Chamber at 989.893.4567 or visit baycityarea.com.

The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1882, is a private, non-profit business organization with nearly 800 members that provides programs to assist local businesses grow and prosper. The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce joins area busi nesses and the community for the economic growth and well-being of the entire Bay Area. Contact: Ryan Tarrant (989) 893-4567 - Email:chamber@baycityarea.com  - Web: Bay City Area Chamber 



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

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