#BestChamber practices (From WCCE conference) - Tuesday Tidbits; SBA Celebrates National Women’s Small Business Month; Enjoy a Sipping Saturday in Downtown Barrington at the Fall Wine Walk Oct. 13; Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce Community Map; South Haven Chamber of Commerce: SUMMIT 2018 – Empowering Business Leaders; Frankfort Chamber CEO Carmen Inman wins Executive of the Year award; South Suburban Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Resource Guide & Business Directory; IPS, Indy Chamber outline unconventional 3-year partnership to cut spending; Mary Claire Olson Potter named Hudson Chamber president; ‘Leadership Lafayette’ team recognizes 27 leaders, presents award; Northern Virginia Chamber, PSC Announce 2018 Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards™ Finalists Winners to be Announced Live at 16th Annual Awards Gala Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m.; 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!

#BestChamber practices (From WCCE conference) - Tuesday Tidbits


#BestChamber practices - Tuesday Tidbits - 85 words free about your business every week. Send in your information by Monday at 5PM. It goes into the Tuesday Tidbits Chamber newsletter.  Has the highest open rate of any newsletters by the chamber. - From a Wisconsin Chamber Executive

SBA Celebrates National Women’s Small Business Month

By Linda McMahon, SBA Administrator

When April Lukasik’s second child was born, she couldn’t find a childcare center that met her high standards. So she started her own – and a small business was born, too.  Read more.

Read more women owned business success stories here.

Connect with a Women's Business Center

Enjoy a Sipping Saturday in Downtown Barrington at the Fall Wine Walk Oct. 13

The Fall Barrington Wine Walk, sponsored by The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce and the Village of Barrington, will take place on Saturday, October 13 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Attendees are invited to enjoy a “Sipping Saturday” while visiting many unique stores in downtown Barrington and enjoying great wine provided by participating merchants. Check-in begins at 2:00 p.m. at NeoTeca, Inc. 130 S. Hough St. in Barrington. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance online at www.barringtonchamber.com.

Ticket price includes: access to a 1-oz. pour at each merchant location, souvenir wine glass, a map of the wine-tasting locations, and a list to check off each tasting sample. Attendees must be over 21 years of age to participate and present identification in order to receive a wristband. A trolley will be provided to transport Wine Walk attendees throughout the downtown Barrington area.

Merchants participating in the Barrington Fall Wine Walk include: Anderson's Candy Shop, Angelina, Barrington Fine Rug Gallery, Barrington Flower Shop, Barrington Saddlery, Big Iron Horse BBQ/Cooper's Pizza, Colored Squid Gallery & Gift Shop, 18/8 Fine Men's Salons – Barrington, Estate Jewelers LTD, EWELINEB Fashion, Fancy Art, N.F.P., Flesk Brewing Co., Fleur De Lis Salon, Heinen's Grocery Store, Jewel-Osco, Long & Co. Jewelers, McGonigal's Pub, Neoteca Inc., Norton's U.S.A., Notice, One Girl, Paris Market Antiques, Savvy Spirit Women's Clothing and Accessories, Shakou Barrington, Skin Wellness by Renee, Studio 4 Hair Salon, Tootsies Shoes, Trevor James Salon and Vin Chicago.

For more information call (847) 381-2525 or visit the BACC website at www.BarringtonChamber.com.

Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce Community Map 

The Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce Community Map is available at the Rochester Regional Chamber today! Thanks to the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Rochester Regional Chamber Map

Town Square Publications  (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. 

South Haven Chamber of Commerce: SUMMIT 2018 – Empowering Business Leaders

SUMMIT SPEAKERS: Wealth of Knowledge, Expertise & Personal Experience

Christy Buck, Executive Director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan and Director of the “be nice.” initiative. “be nice.” is an action plan. It is a life-saving tool that helps individuals understand that they can have an effect on how people think, act and feel. It is the ultimate transformative experience that we all have the ability to save a life by simply being nice.

Tom Daldin, Emmy award winning producer, actor and writer, host of PBS’ “Under the Radar”, has created programs that have aired across Michigan and the U.S. on PBS.  He has also won a number of commercial television “best actor” awards.  His claim to fame is running around exploring cool people, places and things in Michigan.  Who better to share what makes a community stand out as a great place to visit, play, and live? 

Jeff Mason, As CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corporation, an agency dedicated to job creation, Jeff Mason is charged with implementing and executing MEDC’s core mission of business development and attraction, community development, providing access to capital and improving
Michigan’s image and brand.

Brooks Kindel, Small business strategist, coach and Certified Small
Business Consultant. The “silver tsunami” of retiring Boomer business
owners is in full force, while, at the same time, Gen X and the Millennials are seeking opportunities to enter the entrepreneurial space. Whether you’re seeking to buy or sell a business, Brooks will prepare you to successfully navigate the process.  

Call to Register: 269.637.5171

Or Register Online at www.SouthHavenMI.com

When: Friday, October 26, 7:45am-1:30pm
Where: Lake Michigan College-South Haven Campus, 125 Veterans Blvd.
Why: SUMMIT 2018 is an educational opportunity of high relevance to economic and community development in the Southwest Michigan region.
Registration: Tickets are $55 per person for Chamber members, $65 for non-members

Networking breakfast, lunch, and program materials are included.

Frankfort Chamber CEO Carmen Inman wins Executive of the Year award

Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Carmen Inman was honored Thursday night as the Chamber Executive of the Year — and everyone seemed to be in on it except for her.

When the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives named Inman this year’s award winner, Frankfort’s longtime Chamber leader was taken aback.

“Once they started reading it I was like, ‘Wait a minute, that sounds familiar,’ ” Inman said.

She was even more surprised once she realized that her husband, sons and numerous colleagues had been keeping the news a secret from her for the past two weeks. Somehow, they managed to make it to Thursday night’s ceremony without spoiling the surprise.

Inman, who has been with the Frankfort Area Chamber for the past 23 years and has served as its director for more than a decade, credited the talent around her at the Chamber and said receiving the award for the first time meant a great deal to her.

As some of the initiatives that she said contributed to winning the award, Inman pointed to the Chamber’s efforts to brand the city as “Frankfort:Kentucky Distilled” as well as the Chamber’s Frankfort IMPACT program, which aims to help local students become more workforce ready.

KCCE Executive Director Amy Cloud spoke highly of Inman, calling her and the Frankfort Area Chamber a model for other groups to follow.

Despite Inman’s many years with the Chamber, Cloud said Inman has never shown signs of becoming content. Read more: State Journal

South Suburban  Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Resource Guide & Business Directory  

The Muskego Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Guide & Business Directory   is available at the Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Barbara Wesener and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

South Suburban Chamber 2018 Community and Visitor 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.

IPS, Indy Chamber outline unconventional 3-year partnership to cut spending

Indiana’s largest school system is on the cusp of an unusual, three-year partnership with the local chamber of commerce designed to carry out extensive cuts that the business group proposed for balancing the district’s budget.

Under an arrangement that the Indianapolis Public Schools board will vote on Thursday, the Indy Chamber would pay as much as $1 million during the first year for two new district administrators and consulting by outside groups to implement its cost-cutting plan. The agreement is nonbinding, and the chamber or district could withdraw at any time.

The partnership is the culmination of months of negotiation between the chamber and the IPS board, which agreed last spring to delay a public vote on two tax increases to give the chamber time to analyze district finances. In exchange, the chamber agreed to help draft a new request from taxpayers and lend its political support to two tax increases that are on the ballot in November.

The staff members and consultants would help the district implement some of the chambers’ broad recommendations for hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts in the coming years, including possible school closures, reduced transportation, and staff reductions. Many of the potential cuts would likely need approval by the school board.

The aim of the cuts is to stabilize the district budget and generate enough savings to pay for raises for teachers and principals. Chamber officials say they are so invested in the effort because the prosperity of the city’s urban core, and its ability to attract investment, depend on the success of IPS.

But the plan gives the Indy Chamber a rare level of involvement in managing the district, said Zachary Baiel, president of the Indiana Coalition for Open Government. If the chamber is able to help the district improve its operations, the arrangement could be positive for the community, he said. But he raised concerns that the public could be shut out of decision making.

“Any constituent group would love to have this kind of access,” Baiel said. “It’s a fascinating precedent that’s unfolding.”

At a meeting Tuesday night where the proposal was discussed, school board member Venita Moore said the chamber has expertise that the district “desperately” needs. But she also asked for assurances that the district would have ultimate say on the cuts. “I just want to make sure that we’re taking the lead,” she said.

Superintendent Lewis Ferebee assured Moore that the district is “clearly driving this work.” The new positions would be funded by the chamber, he said at a press briefing Tuesday morning, but the district would choose who to hire and supervise the staff members.

The chamber and the district have already discussed how the business group can help the schools find savings, Ferebee said. “This is an opportunity for us to cement some of those details of how they will collaborate with the district,” he said. Read more: indianapolis Business Journal

Mary Claire Olson Potter named Hudson Chamber president

The Hudson Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau announced last week that Mary Claire Olson Potter has accepted the position of chamber president.

Potter brings 17 years of chamber experience to the Hudson Chamber of Commerce including the Rochester Area Chamber, Saint Paul Area Chamber, and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Potter also was President of the Hudson Chamber of Commerce for seven years.
For the past 10 years, she has worked as Director of Business Development for AECOM, a global architectural/engineering firm and most recently as Business Developer for HGA, a national multi-disciplinary architectural/engineering firm.
A resident of Hudson for over 22 years, Potter has remained involved in the community, including serving on the Plan Commission since 2008, and as a member of the Hudson Community Foundation Board of Directors since 2012. Potter was also the Founder and Chief Fundraiser for the David C. Olson Graduate Scholarship for Business Community Excellence in partnership with Minnesota State University, Mankato, and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

Potter will bring her extensive chamber experience and knowledge of the Hudson area to continue moving forward the Chamber's mission, the strategic plan, and the current programs and events of the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. Read more: Hudson Star Observer

‘Leadership Lafayette’ team recognizes 27 leaders, presents award

Twenty-seven local leaders take their fine-tuned skills into the community after graduating from the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce’s 30th annual Leadership Lafayette Program on Aug. 23. The eight-month program is centered around enhancing teamwork, generating and executing new ideas and serving the local community.

“I’m extremely honored each year to be apart of such a prestigious group of leaders in Lafayette Oxford University community,” said Torie White, Leadership Lafayette Program chair. “I know this class will do like so many of the others and go on to do great things in this community and state.”

The 2018 class includes Lindsey Abernathy, University of Mississippi Office of Sustainability; Brandi Binder, FNB Oxford Bank; Joseph Brummett, Wes Schilling; Jamie Carr, J. Carr Properties, LLC; Delia Childers, Oxford Eagle; Kevin Cozart, The Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies; Natalie Damore, Byrne & Associates, PLLC; Dana Fisher, Charter Road Hospitality, Inc.; Luke Harris, Renasant Bank; Scott Iverson, CoreLogic | FNC; Jacob Jenkins, Insight Park; Jeffery Johnson, University of Mississippi; Cassie McCutchen, Baptist Memorial Hospital-North MS; Jeff McCutchen, Oxford Police Department; Justin Mills, University of Mississippi; Katie Mink, Mississippi Small Business Development Center; Jonathan Nance, Ole Miss Athletics; Matt O’Keefe, University of Mississippi; Kristen Paris, ProMatura Group; Patrick Perry, University of Mississippi; Stuart Povall, Develop Design Studio; Cayce Read, CoreLogic|FNC; Michelle Robinson, City of Oxford; Casey Rogers, Innovative Construction Management; Julia Tatum, Delta Grind; Julie Wells, Evans Petree PC; and Brian Whisenant, Oxford Treatment Center.

The 2018 graduating class planned diverse community projects by dividing into four self-planned teams: ALZ In, LOUnity Project, Oxford Community Clean Up Challenge and Team OXCM Hootenanny. ALZ In collaborated with the Memory Makers organization to create a corporate fundraising program and to provide marketing materials for donors. LOUnity Project worked to unify the Brittany Woods community with the City of Oxford through providing a modern and safe recreational place for children who live in Brittany Woods Apartments.

Oxford Community Clean Up Challenge organized a county-wide litter pickup day to unify the community by cleaning up soiled areas and beautifying local surroundings. Team OXCM Hootenanny worked on a new annual fundraiser for the Oxford Community Market. The team organized a family-friendly event, Hootenanny, to raise funds to support Harvest Angel, a program funding fresh foods to at-risk families at Thanksgiving.
This year’s Leadership Lafayette class also chose Jeff McCutchen, Major of Operations for the Oxford Police Department, as recipient of the 11th Annual Leadership Award, recognizing his leadership capabilities and dedication to improving the community throughout the program.

“This year’s class had such chemistry in their small groups,” said Pam Swain, Leadership Lafayette program director and senior vice president of the Chamber. “They each had a great amount of passion for their community and worked hard for the organizations they got involved with through their projects. My hat is off to them for the lasting impact they have left on this community through their determination and goals for their projects.” Read more: Mississippi Business Journal

Northern Virginia Chamber, PSC Announce 2018 Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards™ Finalists Winners to be Announced Live at 16th Annual Awards Gala Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m.

Tysons,  Va.  –The  Northern  Virginia  Chamber  of  Commerce  (Northern  Virginia  Chamber)  and  

the Professional  Services  Council  (PSC)  have  announced  finalists  for  the  16th  Annual  

Greater  Washington Government  Contractor  Awards™,  the  premier  awards  event  for  the  

Washington  area  government contracting community.  The winners of the most prestigious awards in 

the industry will be named at a Nov. 5 gala at The Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner.

In addition to recognizing the best-in-class among the government contracting industry, the awards 

also honor  public  sector  leaders  who  have  done  the most  to  promote  effective  

partnerships  between  the sectors, through the annual Public Sector Partnership Award. This year, 

that recognition, presented by Raymond  James,  will  go  to  The  Honorable  Susan  M.  Gordon,  

Principal  Deputy  Director  of  National Intelligence (PDDNI) Office of the Director of National 

Intelligence.

In addition, George J. Pederson, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board ManTech International 

will be inducted into the Greater Washington Government Contractor Hall of Fame. Both will be 

honored at the Nov. 5 dinner.

In keeping with the program’s history of identifying a charitable partner, the 2018 Charity Partner 

is Luke’s Wings, an organization dedicated to the support of service members who have been wounded 

in battle. Recognizing the immediate need for families to be with their loved ones at such a 

difficult time, Luke’s Wings  provides  families  with  the  means  to  visit  during  the  service 

 member’s  hospitalization  and rehabilitation.  By  purchasing  travel  agency  services  and  

travel  tickets  for  loved  ones,  Luke’s  Wings provides an immediate and invaluable service to 

the families of our men and women at arms while also helping to encourage and motivate the service 

member’s recovery.

The  Program  of  the  Year,  introduced  in  2014,  will  represent  the  most  successful  

contracted  program chosen from among the finalists of all four Contractor of the Year categories, 

which are grouped by annual revenue of up to $25 million, between $25 and $75 million, $75 to $300 

million and greater than $300 million.  The  winner  was  recommended  by  the  judges  for  the  

program’s  combination  of  mission achievement and customer recognition and will be presented on Nov. 5 at the awards.

  

Presented annually, the 2018 Gov Con awards honor the leadership, innovation and commitment to the 

excellence of the individuals and businesses in the region's government contracting sector.

Four Contractor of the Year and three Executive of the Year awards will be presented. This year’s 

finalists for Contractor of the Year and Executive of the Year are:

Contractor of the Year (up to $25 million)

Presented by: JP Morgan Chase

•     Axiologic Solutions

•     Berico Technologies

•     Evans Incorporated

•     InCadence Strategic Solutions

•     Invictus International

•     Ridgeline International

Contractor of the Year ($25-75 million)

Presented by: Baird

•     AbleVets, LLC

•     ACT I (Advanced Concepts and Technologies International, LLC)

•     Ad Hoc

•     Atlas Research

•     Dev Technology Group

•     Kihomac

Contractor of the Year ($75-300 million)

Presented by: CohnReznick

•     Attain

•     E3 Federal Solutions

•     Knight Point Systems

•     OGSystems

•     TeraThink

•    T-Rex Solutions, LLC

Contractor of the Year (greater than $300 million)

Presented by: PwC

•     CGI

•     ICF

•     LGS Innovations

•     ManTech

•    SAIC

Executive of the Year (up to $75 million)

Presented by: BDO

•     Cosmo DiMaggio, CEO, The Tauri Group, Inc.

•     Sarbari Gupta, CEO & President, Electrosoft

•     Michael McDermott, President, InquisIT LLC

•     Marybeth Wootton, CEO, Berico Technologies, LLC

•     Amy Wright, President & CEO, Macro Solutions

Executive of the Year ($75-300 million)

Presented by: PNC

•     Greg Baroni, Chairman & CEO, Attain, LLC

•     Sonny Kakar, CEO, Sevatec Inc.

•     William Vantine, President & CEO, Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.

•     John Wood, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Telos Corporation

Executive of the Year (greater than $300 million)

Presented by: United Bank

•     John Goodman, Chief Executive, Accenture

•     Tim Hurlebaus, President, CGI Federal

•     Tony Moraco, CEO, SAIC

•     Susanna Mudge, President & CEO, Chemonics International

•     Kevin Phillips, President & CEO, ManTech International

More information about the Awards can be found at www.novachamber.org follow the conversation on 

social media using #GovConAwards #GovCon2018 @NovaChamber @PSCSpeaks.

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