#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: (Be Happy Today!); Naperville Area Chamber Of Commerce Hosts 2019 State Of The City Address Featuring Mayor Steve Chirico; Greater Hattiesburg Mississippi Membership Directory and Business Guide 2018-2019; Greater La Porte Chamber, Greater La Porte Economic Development Corp. Teaming Up; Chamber issue: Interstate 81 legislation fuels debate over tolls; Clarkston Chamber Woman Business Leader of the Year; South Suburban Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Resource Guide & Business Directory; Danville-Boyle County Chamber celebrating 100 years with ‘Birthday Bash; 5 Star Chamber: Aurora Regional Chamber: Public Policy Updates; Cedarburg Chamber: Congratulations to our Ladies Who Lead award recipients!; Picayune Chamber event: Opportunity Zone more than likely won’t be moved;

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



#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: (Be Happy Today!) -

Good Morning, This Is God!

I Will Be Handling All Your Problems Today 

I Will Not Need Your Help 

So Relax... and Have a Nice Day!



Naperville Area Chamber Of Commerce Hosts 2019 State Of The City Address Featuring Mayor Steve Chirico

 The 2019 State of the City Address hosted by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) will be held on Monday, March 18, 2019 at Embassy Suites Chicago-Naperville, 1823 Abriter Court in Naperville.  This event is presented by Navistar and Esser Hayes Insurance Group.

The address serves as an inspiring recap of the year’s events.  The discussion will highlight the monumental progression of the area’s growth including new and existing businesses.  Additionally, the address will turn an eye towards the future, as we will learn about a number of programs and initiatives scheduled for the coming year. 

The NACC has hosted the State of the City Address for the past 35 years for the Naperville community starting with Mayor Peg Price.  This program continues to be highly regarded by the Naperville business community and community at large.

“The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce continues to provide relevant resources for the success of our business community. If our businesses are successful, our community is successful,” said Nicki Anderson, NACC President/CEO.  “We are committed to our partnership with the city of Naperville and Naperville Development Partnership to ensure that Naperville continues to be the number one choice for businesses and innovation.”

The Mayor also uses the program as an opportunity to recognize Naperville’s city officials and employees for their accomplishments and dedication to the community. 

“The State of the City address is an important occasion for the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Naperville,” Mayor Steve Chirico said. “This address is an opportunity to look back on the success stories of the past several years and showcase the vision of what’s to come in Naperville. Focusing on four main goals – financial stability, economic development, public safety and high-performing government – this year’s speech will show how Naperville is a game changer in terms of innovation and creativity in serving our residents, businesses and visitors.”

Registration and networking begin at 10:45 a.m. doors open at 11:15 a.m. with the program and lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m.  To make a reservation, call the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce at 630.355.4141 or register online at www.naperville.net.  Due to the popularity of this luncheon, early registration is highly recommended.  Walk-in registration will not be available.

About the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest suburban Chamber in Illinois with an active membership of 1,200 organizations of every size and from every sector. The NACC promotes economic growth and advocacy in and around the Naperville area.  For its efforts in promoting free enterprise and the business community, the Chamber has been recognized with 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an honor bestowed on only 1 percent of Chambers, out of the nearly 7,000 in the nation. Visit www.naperville.net


Greater Hattiesburg Mississippi Membership Directory and Business Guide 2018-2019
The Greater Hattiesburg Mississippi  Membership Directory and Business Guide 2018-2019 is available at the Area Development Partnership in Hattiesburg! Thank you to Chad Newell, Valencia Williamson and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

Hattiesburg Membership Directory and Business Guide 2018-2019

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.

Greater La Porte Chamber, Greater La Porte Economic Development Corp. Teaming Up

Two organizations in La Porte are joining forces. The boards of directors for the Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce and the Greater La Porte Economic Development Corp. have formed an alliance aimed at aligning the organizations’ overall vision.

The groups say they will continue to operate their functions independently but share staff and workspace to achieve their goals as they represent the business interests of the greater La Porte community. The next step, according to the organizations, is to hold “strategic visioning workshops” to determine their shared vision, new name and brand identity.

Bert Cook will serve as Director of the Alliance.

"Essentially, we want to invigorate and improve what is working well and shed what isn’t," Cook said in a news release. "The best way to do that is to rebuild our organizations in conjunction with each other. It is a tremendous opportunity. Our boards have entrusted us with the challenge of building an innovative center for economic prosperity."

The groups say establishing the alliance will likely create capacity for additional staff resources in key areas, which can be used for programs such as the Chamber’s Workforce Development Task Force and the GLEDC’s prospect development initiatives.

A major staffing announcement related to the alliance is expected next month during the State of the City address.  Read more: Inside Indiana Business

Chamber issue: Interstate 81 legislation fuels debate over tolls

The state says critical improvements to Interstate 81 will cost more than $2 billion. And tolls are necessary to raise that kind of money.

Supporters like the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Joyce Waugh say failing to act will carry a high price as well.

"When it is painful enough then you have to do something," Waugh told WDBJ7, "and what we're seeing are higher fatality rates, higher incident rates. We're seeing such significant delays unlike in any other corridor in the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Local trucking companies such as Lawrence Transportation say they want to see improvements on I-81 as well.

But with the potential tolls on trucks topping 55 dollars, they say they are bearing a burden that everyone should share.

K.T. Treat is Director of Business Development for Lawrence Transportation.

"Our top expense is labor and benefits, second largest expense is fuel, and with this proposal it's going to be our third largest expense for the trucking industry," Treat said in an interview. "That's unfair." Read more: WDBJ

Clarkston Chamber Woman Business Leader of the Year

In honor of the Women in Business event, the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce presents a Woman Business Leader of the Year. This award is dedicated to honor a woman who has shaped the success of her organization/business and demonstrated leadership, professional achievement, and contributed not only to her workplace, but also her community. The essence of this award is to discover and reward exceptional women for their leadership, mentoring skills, and/or ideas that stand out from their colleagues.

The Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the winner for Woman Business Leader of the Year is Mary Hydorn from Kids in Motion Pediatric Therapy Services. Mary founded Kids in Motion 25 years ago after seeing a need for local therapy services for families in her area, including her own family. In those 25 years, the business has expanded to four locations, provides therapists in school districts, and has served thousands of families. Mary is dedicated in providing quality therapy services to children, no matter their abilities, and helping them reach their full potential.

The Chamber will be honoring the recipient on Thursday, February 28th, 2019 from 10:30-1:30pm at Fountains Golf & Banquet during the Women in Business event.

This event will feature four inspiring local business women, a brunch buffet, mimosa bar, and a table decorating sponsor with our sponsors.

We would like to thank our presenting sponsors for this event, Bowman Chevrolet and Nemeth Marketing. Thank you to our hospitality sponsors including LaFontaine Automotive Group, Nuview Nutrition, Rodan + Fields, and St. Joseph Mercy Oakland.



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.


Danville-Boyle County Chamber celebrating 100 years with ‘Birthday Bash’

The Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 100th anniversary of supporting business in the community during its annual banquet and award presentations on Friday, March 8.

The 100th Birthday Bash will be held at Chowan Hall on Centre College Campus, beginning with a social hour serving hor-d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m., with music provided by the Heritage Area String Program string quartet and local musician Travis Kern. The dinner menu will feature Kentucky inspired dishes such as Ale-8-One braised brisket and Kenny’s Farmhouse cheese grits. It will be prepared by Sodexo. A dessert social begins at 7:30 p.m., with local jazz singer Michael Hughes entertaining the crowd.

Award winners will be recognized at 8 p.m. Desserts will be provided by Bluegrass and Buttercream, Bluebird Café, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and O’Charley’s, as well as a huge birthday cake from Sweets by Cindy.

For the first time this year, a silent auction will be going on throughout the evening, said chamber executive director Jeff Jewel. Money raised will go to the chamber’s Challenge Foundation, which supports the organization’s Youth Entrepreneur, Youth Leadership and Teacher Academy programs, Jewel said.

A few items up for bids are a trip to Gatlinburg, a local getaway at a bed and breakfast with dinner; and a year’s worth of car washes, Jewell said.

Tickets are $75 and include one free drink ticket for wine or beer; there will be a cash bar. Tables can be reserved with the purchase of eight tickets.

The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, March 1. To purchase tickets, call (859) 236-2361; or visit bit.ly/2TlQ47C.

The following awards will be presented:

• Historically Bold Award, sponsored by Wilderness Trail Distillery

• Community Impact Award, sponsored by Farmers National Bank

• Outstanding Citizen Award, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, Bob Miller

• Outstanding Small Business Award, sponsored by Hampton Inn

• Outstanding Large Business Award, sponsored by Republic Service

• Outstanding Business Person Award, sponsored by Stith Funeral Home

• Outstanding Volunteer Award, sponsored by Central Kentucky Federal Savings Bank

• Rising Star Award, sponsored by Fort Knox Federal Credit Union

• Bruce Montgomery Leadership Alumni Award, sponsored by Inter-County Energy/Touchstone Energy Cooperative

• Director’s Award, sponsored by Johnson Pohlmann Insurance

• Outstanding Ambassador, sponsored by Servpro

Read more: Advocate Messenger

5 Star Chamber: Aurora Regional Chamber: Public Policy Updates 


Illinois GA Bills to Watch »
COGFA Reports on Impact of Local Government Pensions »
Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor's Respond Negatively to Pritzker Budget Proposal »
House Republicans File Resolution Opposing Gov. Pritzker's Unfair Tax »
More Work Must Be Done on Tax Credit »
Gov. Pritzker Delivers Budget Address »
House GOP Opposes Costly, Job-killing Minimum Wage Hike »
Minimum Wage Bill Passes Senate Along Party Lines »
$15 Minimum Wage Passes Senate »
Illinois Pushes Toward $15 Minimum Wage »
Aurora Chamber Joins Ill. Chamber, Others in Release of Study on Data Centers »
Leader Durkin, House Republicans Introduce Fair Maps Amendment »

Cedarburg Chamber: Congratulations to our Ladies Who Lead award recipients!

On Tuesday, February 19, the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce hosted a sold-out crowd of over 200 guests at the second annual Ladies Who Lead, presented by U.S. Bank. Sincere thanks to all of our sponsors, to all attendees and speakers, and special congratulations to the five award recipients this year! Save the date for the third annual Ladies Who Lead on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

Pictured above, from left: Cristy Garcia-Thomas, keynote speaker and Chief External Affairs Officer at Advocate Aurora Health, Ann Denk, retail award; Jennifer Mantooth, professional services award; Connie Niebauer, legacy award; Donna Taylor, restaurant/hospitality award; BJ Homayouni, non-profit award; Lenore Sprague, Vice President, Business Banking, U.S. Bank, Maggie Dobson, Cedarburg Chamber Executive Director, & Craig Shanks, Branch Manager, U.S. Bank - Cedarburg.

Picayune Chamber event: Opportunity Zone more than likely won’t be moved

Community members and business leaders in Picayune heard from a representative of the Mississippi Development Authority during an event held this week by the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Jamie Miller, deputy director of MDA, updated attendees on a program called Opportunity Zone and gave new information about the availability of BP settlement funding.

The biggest topic for local business owners was the creation of an opportunity zone in the city of Picayune. Miller said the zones were created as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and Mississippi was the first to create zones upon passage of the Act. Miller said 18 were created within Mississippi. Business owners can utilize the Opportunity Zone to get relief from taxes by making investments within the Opportunity Zone.

Picayune’s Opportunity Zone primarily falls in residential areas, and none of it is in the city’s Industrial Park, which appeared to be a point of contention for those in attendance during Wednesday’s presentation.

Questions as to whether the Opportunity Zone could be moved to include the Industrial Park were posed. Miller said that while technically the zone could be moved, it would require action from Congress, which he felt was unlikely.

The maps were created using census data focusing on areas with the highest poverty rate. According to MDA’s website, areas “with a poverty rate of 20 percent or greater and/or family income less than 80 percent of the area median income, were eligible for consideration.”

In relation to the BP funding, Miller said the $750 million settlement from the company will be doled out in payments until about 2033. The first payment of $160 million was made in 2016, and all but $27 million has been spent on projects to improve roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

For the next 14 years, the state will receive $30 million per year, of which 25 percent will be used for projects across the entire state, and 75 percent will be allocated for projects in the lower six counties, including Pearl River. Read more: Picayune Item

Events Manager - Arlington Chamber of Commerce - Arlington, VA

he Events Manager is responsible for the planning and execution of all Chamber events and programs. The successful candidate will have the ability to manage multiple events at a time; will develop and implement plans to meet event goals with respect to budget, attendance and overall impact; will be a resource to the membership as well as the staff; and will be a very important part of the team, assisting the organization to meet its overall goals.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Plan and execute all aspects of Chamber events, including monthly networking events and meetings, educational programs, and large scale events such as the Annual Gala and Silent Auction and various awards ceremonies drawing crowds of 150 – 350 high profile attendees.
• Responsible for event preparation including budgeting, site selection, contract negotiation and execution, A/V coordination, overseeing award selection committees, agenda and script creation as well as event execution.
• Edit all newsletters, event invitations, event signs, event programs and press releases.
• Supervise Part-Time Events Associate

What we are looking for:

Our next staff member will have excellent communications skills as well as a keen attention to detail and a professional demeanor. He/she will be a self-starter who will be able to simultaneously execute and complete multiple projects with competing deadlines. Bachelor’s Degree and proficiency in Microsoft Office required. Previous experience planning and executing large scale, revenue generating events is highly preferred. This candidate must be a team player; flourish in a fast-paced and often challenging but enjoyable environment.

Please submit resume with cover letter with salary history and/or salary expectations via e-mail to presidentarlingtonchamber.org. Due to volume, all responses may not be acknowledged. No phone calls, please.

Job Type: Full-time

Experience:

• Event Management: 2 years (Required)

More information: Arlington Chamber

Marketing & Communications Associate
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce - Tysons, VA

Position responsibilities include:

• Design and implement email marketing communications (Cvent)
• Manage and edit the Chamber’s website (Weblink)
• Manage the Chamber’s various social media communities (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
• Support public relations activities: draft press releases, create media lists, distribute press releases (Meltwater), manage press tracking
• Partner with other departments to identify and fulfill marketing and communications needs
• Assist with and report on digital and traditional media tracking and reporting
• Assist with design and production of visual marketing materials
• Write copy for communications and marketing materials
• Attend and photograph all Northern Virginia Chamber events
• Provide administrative support to Director, Marketing & Communications
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• 2-3 years of professional experience in communications and/or marketing required
• Excellent organizational skills and precise attention to details
• Ability to manage time effectively and work in a deadline driven schedule
• Self-motivated, with the ability to multi-task, and work independently, as well as a part of a team, in a fast-paced environment
• Effectively problem-solve anticipated and immediate challenges
• Experience working on medium to large size projects from conception to completion.
• Ability to maintain a professional appearance and attitude, even when under pressure
• Solid grasp of social, digital, word-of-mouth marketing, personal and professional experience across the digital and social space, and knowledge of emerging trends and technologies
• Basic to intermediate knowledge of graphic design software (Adobe Creative Cloud) for design and production of marketing collateral and advertisements preferred
• Experience with email marketing platforms
• Experience managing and editing a website using a content management system (CMS)
• Experience with digital measurement and evaluation tools (such as Google Analytics) and basic knowledge of html a plus
• Experience and knowledge of branding and brand management
• Ability to engage and interact professionally with members in a formal business atmosphere.
• Experience with a membership organization a plus
• A bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, preferred

Benefits:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• 401k plan with employer matching
• Health care plan including dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance, disability insurance
• Paid holiday and vacation schedule
• Complimentary garage parking

Job Type: Full-time

Experience:

• Communications: 1 year (Preferred)
• Marketing: 1 year (Preferred)

More information: Northern Virginia 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