Portage County Business Council announces Association Health Plan; Romeoville Community & Membership Directory; Elizabeth Cromwell Named Charlottelsville Regional Chamber of Commerce President; Greensburg is growing; Oxford economic leader: Pay attention to small fish; Education 2.0: Engaging in the race to create a future workforce; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Seth Godin); Joliet Chamber 2018 ATHENA Luncheon; New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce Community Map; The Bullitt County Wine And Bourbon Passport Tour; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Happy Friday #ChamberWorld! Have a GREAT weekend!



Portage County Business Council announces Association Health Plan

Portage County Business Council (PCBC) is coordinating a new Portage County Business Council Association Health Plan as an added value to membership. Aspirus/Arise Health Plan and WPS Health Plan are the insurance carriers with Ansay & Associates, LLC serving as the consultant and broker. Due to recent legislation, PCBC is able to offer this to members.

Coverage will be available to Council members, including non-profit members, with one to ninety-nine eligible employees. There will be informational sessions for employers and employees along the way. The effective date for the plan will be January 1, 2019, so employers will be able to compare this plan with their current plan, if they have one for employees. For those businesses who are not members, they will need to join PCBC to be able to take advantage of the opportunity, but non-members are invited to the informational meeting.

“It is widely known that healthcare costs are a challenge for businesses and employees. We hope by offering this, PCBC will be able to positively impact healthcare costs for our members”, said Todd Kuckkahn, Executive Director, PCBC.

Council members will have the opportunity to offer one traditional plan option and two high deductible HSA qualified plan options through two networks (the Aspirus Network and the WPS Statewide Network). The PCBC Association Health Plan will be underwritten as one large group and the underwriting process will be discussed during the information sessions listed below. Businesses will be able to opt-in or opt-out after rates are determined.

The plans will be rolled out during informational sessions to be held on Wednesday, September 12 at 9:00 a.m. or Thursday, September 27 at 1:00 p.m. at Mid-State Technical College, Stevens Point Campus, 1001 Centerpoint Drive, Community Engagement Room #635, Stevens Point WI. To register, please go to http://business.portagecountybiz.com/events.

For questions regarding the sessions, contact Tammy Pestka or Pete Valiska with Ansay & Associates ((877) 492-6769). You may also contact Todd Kuckkahn, Executive Director, PCBC; ((715) 344-1940); tkuckkahn@portagecountybiz.com.




Romeoville Community & Membership Directory  

The Romeoville 2017 Community & Membership Directory is available at the Romeoville Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to 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.

Elizabeth Cromwell Named Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce President

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors today announced that it has hired Elizabeth Cromwell as the new president and CEO of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. Cromwell has been the president and CEO of the Frederick County, Maryland Chamber of Commerce since 2014.

“We were not only seeking a competent leader, but an exceptional one, and Elizabeth checked all of the boxes,” said Pete Caramanis, 2018 chair-elect of the Chamber Board of Directors and co-chair of the executive search committee to find the new Chamber president. “Elizabeth is the strategic thinker and relationship builder that our Chamber desires and our community needs. She shares our Board’s ambitious vision, and her hiring is a big step toward modernizing our Chamber and making it relevant and important to all members of our business community.”

The search committee members first became acquainted with Cromwell when she brought a contingent of people from Frederick to Charlottesville for the Tom Tom Founders Festival in April, 2018.

“I am honored to be selected to sustain and strengthen the Charlottesville Regional Chamber and thank the Board for its decision. My background at the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce is directly relevant to the opportunities the Charlottesville Chamber has identified for future success, and I am looking forward to joining Charlottesville’s vibrant business community,” said Cromwell. Cromwell’s start date is October 1, 2018, and she will be relocating to Charlottesville in the interim. 

With 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors, Cromwell’s background includes marketing, public relations, corporate partnerships, advocacy and large-scale event management. Cromwell received Frederick Community College’s Business Leadership Award (2015) and the Maryland Daily Record’s Most Admired CEO Award in 2015 and 2017. In 2016, she accepted an invitation to join the Forbes Nonprofit Council and now occasionally writes columns for Forbes.com. Read more: NBC29.com

Greensburg is growing

Community leaders chime in on progress in Greensburg

Taking a drive around town, one notices a lot of dust and construction.

The second phase of the Lincoln Street refurbishment project, construction of a new Dollar General store beside Five Points Tire on U.S. Hwy. 421 S., the second location of Napoleon State Bank in pre-construction beside Pizza King on Lincoln Street, the hotly discussed new jail on S. Ireland Street and the seemingly never-ending work towards completion of the Veterans Way corridor north of town all represent one thing: growth in Greensburg.

“Decatur County is one of a handful of the 92 counties listed as those who are predicting future growth in Indiana,” Greensburg-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jeff Emsweller said. “We’ve been trying very hard to attract other businesses to our town, big retail stores and the like, but the truth of the matter is that they’re not going to come to town until we prove to them that there’s enough of a client base here to support their businesses.”

The Chamber director went on to say, “The more rooftops we create here and the more people we attract to live here, then you’ll really start seeing things grow. There are a lot of big businesses who are looking at us and our numbers. We’re close, we’re just not there yet, and if you take a look at the number of building permits that have been applied for in the county, I believe those figures are up dramatically. So, there’s lots of construction and a lot of good things happening.”

The community recently received a $600,000 grant from the state to revitalize the downtown area. Emsweller said those funds in conjunction with the city’s walking trails, the recently completed dog park, the green space soccer field project planned for next year and the amphitheater planned for Rebeccah Park all confirm that Greensburg is a vibrant community where people want to come and live.

“If they come to live here, then the retailers will build here,” Emsweller said. “So, yeah, we’re growing and I’m excited. It’s a good time to be here in Greensburg.”

The credit for the growth and signs of progress can’t be credited to just one person or organization, he added.

“There are many folks working here together to make this happen. There’s the Stellar Communities effort and Mayor Dan Manus. There’s the Economic Development Corporation as well. Brian Robbins is doing some good work revitalizing the EDC, he’s got his plate full to be sure. There’s Main Street Greensburg. There’s Gary Herbert and Tourism. We have a lot to thank them for, and don’t forget Tami Wenning at the Community Foundation. She’s been a big help as well. And with the Chamber of Commerce at the table, we’re really getting somewhere, I think.”

Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Brian Robbins also commented on the growth the community is experiencing. Read more: Greensburg Daily News

Oxford economic leader: Pay attention to small fish

As communities across the state go whale hunting for big economic prospects, the City of Oxford’s director of economic development contends that taking a tropical fish approach has helped make his city’s economy strong. Jon Maynard, the president and CEO of Oxford/Lafayette Economic Development Foundation, spoke Tuesday to a packed dining room of local business people at the Carriage House Restaurant. 

Maynard was the guest speaker for the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly membership luncheon. During the luncheon, Maynard presented his ideas for improving economic development by focusing on quality of life issues instead of just focusing on recruiting large industries. 

“That is what I call whale hunting — getting the big projects to land in your community,” Maynard said. “When we think about economic development we typically think about the big deals.” “But are we really doing economic development?” Maynard said. 

Using data he had compiled from various public sources, Maynard demonstrated how despite trying to land big fish, most counties in the state have lost population and have lost jobs, particularly in manufacturing. Added to the problem are pressures from the Internet, social media and the migration of millennials out of the state, Maynard said. 

“These days we are losing human beings to Austin, Nashville, Charleston,” Maynard said. “There are so many Mississippians who are being sucked out of this state by those communities that have talent recruiting budgets bigger than my budget and (Natchez Inc.’s) budget combined.” 

There is an urgency to do something different, Maynard said. Instead of whale fishing, Maynard said communities might find part of the answer in what he has discovered make Oxford successful. 

“We have been tropical fishing in Oxford for nearly 30 years now,” Maynard said. Unlike whale fishing, Maynard said Oxford has been able to attract, foster and grow several small companies that did not ask for incentives or deals. 

Those companies include tech firms such as FNC, Next Gear and mTrade. Other companies include Winchester ammunition, No Time 2 Cook and Cotton’s Café. With a tropical fish approach to economic development, Maynard said Oxford has been able to enjoy since 2000 a 40 percent population growth, 7,830 net new jobs, and an increase in annual wages and per capita income. Read more: Natchez Democrat

Education 2.0: Engaging in the race to create a future workforce

hree prominent collegiate leaders highlight the relationship between educational institutions and the future of the Michigan workforce

On Wednesday, October 17, the Troy Chamber of Commerce will host Education 2.0, an engaging panel discussion featuring three prominent collegiate leaders that are championing the future of the next generation of employees. The panel will highlight their contributions to their respective institutions and provide insight on how working closely with the business community is vital to engage the next generation of employees. The event will be held from 8-9:30 a.m. at MSU Management Education Center, 811 W. Square Lake Rd. Troy.

President & CEO of the Troy Chamber, Ara Topouzian, explains that Education 2.0 is a great opportunity to interact with prominent leaders in education as they share their vision of the role Michigan’s students will have in the future of the business community.

“This is a great opportunity to hear from some of our education leaders as they embark on new challenges within higher education. Preparing students for the next workforce will be a major topic of interest and it will be important to hear how this can be addressed at college level”.

The panel of experts include: Marsha Kelliher, President/CEO of Walsh College; Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, President of Oakland University; Peter Provenzano Jr., Chancellor of Oakland Community College, and moderator Roop Raj, Anchor at Fox2 Detroit.

“When we change someone’s life through education we change not only their life, but all the lives they touch. That is a powerful way to make a difference,” says Marsha Kelliher, J.D., LL.M. President and CEO of Walsh College. “I hope people leave with an understanding that through our collaboration with our community college partners we can provide an excellent education to those who can least afford it.”

The cost is $22 for Troy Chamber members and $32 for future members. Register at troychamber.com/events. For more information call 248-641-8151 or e-mail: theteam@troychamber.com



Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations: (Seth Godin)

 "Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, you ought to set up a life you don't need to escape from." - Seth Godin

Joliet Chamber 2018 ATHENA Luncheon

The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry and The Council for Working Women has announced Jen Howard as the recipient of the 2018 ATHENA Award. 

The ATHENA Award Program was developed in 1982 to honor exceptional female or male leaders who demonstrate the highest levels of professional excellence, contribute time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community, and actively assist others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.  

Contact the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry at (815) 727-5371 to make reservations. 

New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce Community Map 

New Castle-Henry County Chamber map

The New Castle-Henry County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Community Map is available at the New Castle-Henry County Chamber today! Thanks to Missy Modesitt, Mary Campbell 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. 

The Bullitt County Wine And Bourbon Passport Tour

4 award winning wineries, Jim Beam and Four Roses come together for a passport tour in which all locations are within a 15 mile radius from Shepherdsville, the city in the middle of them all. Shepherdsville is only 20 minutes from downtown Louisville. So if you're looking for a fun filled day that is also convenient, the Bullitt County Wine & Bourbon Tour is for you. Visit them all and receive a free souvenir glass.

395 Paroquet Springs Drive; Shepherdsville, KY 40165

More information: Bourbon Country

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