Hurricane Hunter pilot explains typical mission to Biloxi residents; NWI Chambers interest: Site Selectors Set to Visit Northwest Indiana; Birmingham-Bloomfield Young Professionals Network Mixer; #FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be positive!); #Chamberpartnership: Effingham Regional Career Academy Selected Top 20 State Shared Project; Greater Reston and Dulles Regional Chambers International Network Night; Thirty local leaders selected for academy to address workforce needs across Kentucky; Chamber host: 'Breakfast in the Valley' celebrates 22 years in Eau Claire; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

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



Hurricane Hunter pilot explains typical mission to Biloxi residents


Community members got a personal experience with a Hurricane Hunter Thursday morning in Biloxi. The pilot explained exactly what the important weather investigating team does.

Hurricane Hunter missions can be intense and dangerous. But beyond that, what exactly does the mysterious Air Force reserve program do? That was the question being answered by Lt. Col. Jeff Ragusa. 

Ragusa was hoping to make the public more aware of what a Hurricane Hunter mission entails.

"To make sure that they know what we're doing and what they're role in that is. If we're just out there doing it, spinning our wheels, then it's just not worth it. It's just not something we should be doing unless people are going to gain something from it," he said.

Ragusa's ultimate goal is to help the public make life-saving decisions when storms are headed their way.

"We just want them to pay attention. Please don't let me be doing it for nothing," said Ragusa.

The informative session was hosted by the Biloxi Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. Those in attendance were introduced to what it takes to pull off a data collecting mission with the Hurricane Hunters, officially known as the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. 

"Extremely eye-opening, especially when he demonstrated what each crew member did on the aircraft," said Elijah Mitchell.

Mitchell was part of that demonstration, acting as a pilot. There were also volunteers portraying the co-pilot, navigation, meteorologist, and more.

The experience gave Mitchell a better sense of the importance of what the team does.

"The data they collect and feedback to the National Hurricane Center is very important information and can inform us of an accurate time to evacuate," said Mitchell. Read more: WLOX

NWI Chambers interest: Site Selectors Set to Visit Northwest Indiana

August 1-3, 2018, the Economic Development Corporation Michigan City (EDCMC), is partnering with Webster Global Site Selectors to host the SiteLink conference at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel, and Spa. Sponsored by several Economic Development Organizations in Northern Indiana, Southwestern Michigan, and private sector companies, SiteLink will convene a forum of internationally recognized site selectors who will make presentations on their areas of expertise. Site selectors are specialists hired by companies to evaluate needs and make recommendations on the best places for business expansion or relocation. Fifty or more Economic Development professionals from across the states will attend the SiteLink Forum to learn from the experts in site selection. Site Selectors will meet with attendees one-on-one to provide feedback and advice on business recruitment strategies. “Because the SiteLink Forum is kept small, it allows many of the attendees to meet with Site Selectors and share information about their communities and projects,” said Paige Webster, President of Webster Global and organizer of the event. There will be a variety of networking events, which provide individuals the opportunity to build relationships with the site selectors and regional leaders in Economic Development.

The site selectors planning to attend the SiteLink Forum event include:
James Blair, Managing Director, Navigator Consulting, LLC; Atlanta, GA
Amy Gerber, Executive Managing Director- Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield; Atlanta, GA
Tim Feemster, Managing Principal, Foremost Quality Logistics; Dallas, TX
Stuart Lipper, Vice President, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL); Iselin, NJ
Allea Newbold, Principal, Ryan; Tampa, FL
Joseph Vranich, Principal, Spectrum Location Solutions; Cranberry, PA
Paige Webster, President, Webster Global Site Selectors; Phoenix, AZ

The Economic Development Corporation Michigan City is pleased to be hosting with several other Gold sponsors from the Region that include Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, La Porte County Office of Economic Development, and Lake County IN Economic Alliance. Each of these four Gold Sponsors will have an opportunity to community tours to show off their communities and the assets they have to offer to the site selectors. Some of the activities that site selectors will participate in are visits to industrial sites, tours of state of the art healthcare facilities, samplings of local cuisine, views of the lakefront, and participation in local festivities. The conference will end right as Grand Prix Boat Race and The Taste weekend begins in Michigan City. A few of the site selectors will be extending their visit in Michigan City to explore the beach front community and to attend the races on Sunday, August 5th. “We are excited and proud to host the SiteLink Forum in Michigan City this year,” said Clarence Hulse, Executive Director for the EDCMC, “We look forward to showing what a great place our city is for building business and a great quality of life.”

Full bios on the site selectors, a list of all sponsors, and registration for the event can be found at www.sitelinkforum.com.

Birmingham-Bloomfield Young Professionals Network Mixer


Young Professionals Network Mixer with the Troy Chamber YPN

Calling all Young Professionals! The Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber Young Professionals Network and the Troy Chamber Young Professionals will be hosting a joint mixer at Granite City Food & Brewery. Enjoy complimentary flat bread pizza and a cash bar. Connect and collaborate with like-minded young professionals.

When: Tuesday, August 28, 2018 5:30 PM thru 06:30 PM
Where: 699 W Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI 48084

Register Online Now! Click here.

FREE for BBCC Members/$10 for non-member




#FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be positive!)

“Every good thought you think is contributing its share to the ultimate result of your life.” - Grenville Kleiser

#Chamberpartnership: Effingham Regional Career Academy Selected Top 20 State Shared Project

The Effingham Regional Career Academy (ERCA) was recently named one of the top 20 examples of Shared Services Best Practices across the State of Illinois. Gov. Bruce Rauner and Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti unveiled a report highlighting examples of local governments banding together to share services, equipment and expertise to increase government efficiency and save taxpayer dollars.

ERCA President, Effingham Unit #40 Superintendent Mark Doan, commented, “The ERCA is a cooperative effort between Lake Land College, Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, and Effingham County schools that works to develop learning opportunities for citizens in the region. A lot of hard work has gone into developing partnerships to provide potential employees with the skills our area businesses are seeking. The ERCA is targeting both incumbent workers as well as high school level students while maximizing the resources available in an efficient manner. We are very proud of this recognition and look forward to continuing to expand this work.”

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees has demonstrated support for an 8-year master facilities plan calling for the construction of the Rural Development Technology Center in Effingham. The anticipated 36,000 square-foot facility will serve as a permanent home for the Effingham Regional Career Academy. The facility is projected to be finished by 2023 with five ERCA career pathways and associated courses shared across Effingham County school districts, in addition to available incumbent worker and adult student programs.

Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti said, “I commend these local leaders for finding innovative ways to deliver more efficient, effective, streamlined services for our taxpayers, and I encourage other local governments to follow their lead.” Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti will be presenting the award to the ERCA at the Kickoff to Education Breakfast to be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at the Keller Convention Center in Effingham.

In total, 262 shared service examples were provided for best practice consideration. Out of those responses, 20 were selected to be published in the Journal. The report can be found at the following link: https://www2.illinois.gov/ltg/Pages/default.aspx

To find more news about the Effingham Regional Career Academy, go to https://www.effinghamregionalcareeracademy.com/ or like us on Facebook “Effingham Regional Career Academy.”

Contact: Norma Lansing, President

(217) 342-4147

Greater Reston and Dulles Regional Chambers International Network Night

August 21 |

Signature Flight Support

23950 Wind Sock Drive, Suite 2000, Dulles

Registration closes at Noon today - secure your ticket now!

Connect and network with members of the Greater Reston and Dulles Regional Chambers of Commerce. Our annual collaborative International Network Night will be held Tuesday, August 21 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

This event always draws more than 200 business leaders from two of the nation's wealthiest and most dynamic counties. More information: Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce



Thirty local leaders selected for academy to address workforce needs across Kentucky

Thirty leaders of business, industry, and education from across the state have been named as the first Champions selected to attend Kentucky’s Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Academy.

Earlier this year, Kentucky was designated by the U.S. Chamber Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation as one of three states to implement the academies, and the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center was chosen to carry out the TPM initiative in the Commonwealth.

Talent Pipeline Management is an employer-led approach to identifying specific workforce needs as well as training and quality issues and solutions to persistent workforce-related challenges. The TPM Academy is a three-part program to train Champions on ways to build talent supply chains and launch TPM in their own communities.

Since achieving the TPM designation, the Chamber’s Workforce Center has focused on engaging employers to work together on a sector and regional basis to address their workforce needs. The work is being done with the support of the Strada Education Network, a national nonprofit and the founding partner of the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center, and in partnership with the Kentucky Education & Workforce Cabinet.

The Workforce Center’s Talent Pipeline staff and the Champions selected for the TPM academy will focus on creating specific strategies to meet the needs of different industry and regional sectors. By July 2020, more than 25 employer groups, representing regions as well as business and industry sectors, are to be convened to build talent pipelines for 75 high-demand positions.

The 30 TPM Champions, representing business, nonprofit organizations, public entities and communities are:

Ellen Bates
Talent Development Coordinator
Kentucky Career Center, Brighton Center

Samantha Brady (Pictured)
Executive Director
Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce

Tiffany Cardwell
Principal Consultant
Mountjoy Chilton Medley

Daniel Carney
Executive Director
Springfield-Washington County Economic Development Authority

Maureen Carpenter
Vice President, Partnership Services
Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Tomi Clifford
Executive Director
Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber of Commerce

Brittany Corde
Director of Workforce
Maysville Community and Technical College

Michelle DeJohn
Business Services Branch Manager
Kentucky Career Center, Office of Employment & Training

Michelle Drake
Workforce Training and Business AdministratorGreen River Area Development District

Carter Dyson
One Stop Director
Kentucky Career Center-Lincoln Trail

Jeremy Faulkner
Director of Business Services & Economic Development
TENCO Workforce Innovation Board

Michael Fuller
HR/Account Manager
Stryker Logistics

Carmen Inman (Pictured)
President/CEO
Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce

Ethan Linville
Business Services Specialist
Bluegrass Area Development District

Brian Lovell
Assistant Superintendent of Compliance & Workforce Development
Union County Public Schools

Bryan Lummus
Personnel Recruitment and Development Coordinator
Alliance Coal

Terri Lundberg
CEO
Lundberg Medical Imaging

Lea Martin
Workforce Development Liaison
Hopkinsville Community College

Owen McNeill
Economic Development Director
Maysville-Mason County Industrial Development Authority

MaryAnne Medlock
Business Services Liaison
West Kentucky Workforce Board

Angie Miller
Administration/HR Manager
Murakami Manufacturing USA

Ian Mooers
Economic & Entrepreneur Liaison
Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program

Leisa Mulcahy
Vice President of Workforce
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Sidney Riney
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation

Whitney Risley
Manager of Existing Industries and Workforce Development
Kyndle

Jessie Schook
Manager of Workforce Development and Education
Greater Louisville Inc.

Natalie Shepard
Partnership Manager
Commerce Lexington Inc.’s Business & Education Network

Shirlene Taylor
Business Services Representative
Lake Cumberland Area Development District

Joyce Wilcox
Industry Liaison
EKCEP

Ashley Wilczek
Director of Human Resources
Superb IPC

Chamber host: 'Breakfast in the Valley' celebrates 22 years in Eau Claire

Early birds got a tasty breakfast on Friday. Thousands of Chippewa Valley locals flooded to the Eau Claire Exposition Center for a meal.

The 22nd annual 'Breakfast in the Valley,' hosted by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce had muffins, eggs, and of course, those famous Wisconsin cheese curds. Organizers estimated serving around 3,500 people with the help of more than 350 volunteers, some up since 2 a.m. Friday morning getting things ready. The purpose of the event was to celebrate local farming and agriculture.

"When you look at the farming industry today, much smaller than it ever has been," said David Minor (pictured), president and CEO of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. "Still, the agriculture industry is the second [biggest] industry in the state of Wisconsin. These are hidden businesses for the most part, so it's nice that people do come that one day a year to help celebrate it and to tell these people thank you, we appreciate what you do for us."

Besides filling up bellies and learning about local businesses, guests could also participate in raffles and watch a milk chugging contest. News 18's own Aaron Rhody joined in on the fun, but unfortunately couldn't bring home the gold. Read more: WQOW

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