ACCE: 2019 Chamber of the Year finalists: Effingham County (IL) Chamber, Murray-Calloway County (KY) Chamber, Greater Louisville Inc (GLI), Bowling Green Area (KY) Chamber, 8 others; Mclean County COMPACT summer intern program: Becoming BN: RSVPs are due TODAY!; #FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!); Rochester Regional Chamber President and RRC Foundation Board Member Participate in Michigan Chamber’s Chamber Day; South Suburban Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Resource Guide & Business Directory; LEAD 2.019 recognizes graduates, unveils project; Portage County Prosperity 2040 Launches 7 Innovative Projects; Murray-Calloway chamber named finalist for ’19 Chamber of Year; The 2018 Greater Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Community Map; Sibonie Swatzyna named Hernando Chamber director; 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!

ACCE: 2019 Chamber of the Year finalists: Effingham County (IL) Chamber, Murray-Calloway County (KY) Chamber, Greater Louisville Inc (GLI), Bowling Green Area (KY) Chamber, 8 others

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives today announced finalists for the 2019 Chamber of the Year competition, sponsored by MemberClicks.

Finalists for 2019 Chamber of the Year are (sorted by category):

Category One:
Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce
Murray, Kentucky

Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce
Wooster, Ohio

Effingham County Chamber of Commerce
Effingham, Illinois

Category Two:
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Kalispell, Montana

Longview Chamber of Commerce
Longview, Texas

Grapevine Chamber of Commerce
Grapevine, Texas

Category Three:
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Asheville, North Carolina

Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership
Ocala, Florida

Category Four:
Salt Lake Chamber
Salt Lake City, Utah

Greater Louisville Inc.
Louisville, Kentucky

Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
Irving, Texas

n the final phase of the competition, a judging committee conducts in-person interviews with leaders representing each finalist chamber. One winner from each category will be named at the 2019 ACCE Annual Convention in Long Beach, California.

Learn more about Chamber of the Year here.


Mclean County COMPACT summer intern program: Becoming BN: RSVPs are due TODAY!


Becoming BN is a 10-week summer program, specifically designed for ALL summer interns in McLean County to learn more about the wonderful attributes Bloomington-Normal has to offer.



Each week participants will engage in activities and experiences that introduce them to our thriving community, while they have opportunities to network, meet local CEO’s, and pick up a few professional development tips along the way. The Becoming BN is a program of McLean County COMPACT, a subsidiary of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce.



#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!)

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” Thich Nhat Hanh




Rochester Regional Chamber President and RRC Foundation Board Member Participate in Michigan Chamber’s Chamber Day

Rochester Regional Chamber (RRC) President, Alaina Campbell, and RRC Foundation board member, Cheryl Bida, participated in the Michigan Chamber of Commerce “Chamber Day” last Tuesday, May 21. Chamber Day gives chambers of commerce from across the state the opportunity to speak with elected officials about pressing issues facing the business community. Panel discussion topics included filling the talent gap, Michigan roads and the legalization of marijuana. The auto insurance reforms and the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is an update to NAFTA, were also points of discussions. Additionally, participants had an opportunity to hear directly from the Governor regarding her proposed budget and then meet with elected officials.

“The panel discussions were informative and enlightening. It’s crucial to understand the funding history, or lack thereof, and how Michigan compares to neighboring states. When you realize that our infrastructure has been severely underfunded for the past 40 years and that neighboring states spend $1 billion more per year on their roads, you can understand how our roads came to be in this condition” said Campbell.


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





LEAD 2.019 recognizes graduates, unveils project




Greensburg, In. — In a room filled with varying perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and occupations, this years LEAD 2.019 class stepped up to make the first public presentations of their chosen community projects. The LEAD acronym represented the opportunity to Learn, Experience, Apply and Demonstrate and the presentations fulfilled their last class requirement for graduation.

Thats just what the group did on Tuesday during lunch at the Decatur County REMC. The leadership program was adopted by the Greensburg/Decatur County Chamber of Commerce and facilitated by Effective Advancement Strategies of Greensburg.

According to Chamber Executive Director Jeff Emsweller, LEAD 2.019 was described as the next version of the former Leadership Decatur County program, which hadn't existed for over a decade. The need for the program was highlighted in the Community Vision and judging by the response, all in attendance were impressed with the efforts of the class.

The class of 14 started their journey in October 2018, meeting 11 times for three and one-half hours over that span and culminating with Tuesdays required presentations.

The class started with learning more about themselves and how their friends and colleagues viewed their leadership style,” Effective Advancement Strategies CEO David Fry said. Fry served as the facilitator and trainer of the program. Over the next few months they had several unique opportunities to learn more about the public, private and nonprofit sectors in the community.

Several speakers shared their perspectives on leadership and during one session the class visited Honda Manufacturing of Indiana to tour the facility and gain insight into their leadership culture, Fry said.

In the second phase, the class sought out community projects, issuing calls for proposals and building on the multiple assessments they had access to review. Those included City and County comprehensive plans, a Community Health Needs Assessment, the vision plan and others. In the end, three projects were chosen, and all aligned with the community vision.

Those projects and the team members that chose to help advance them were: Raising ARTisTREE District Awareness Angel Hocker, Terrah (Annie) Nunley, Vanessa Martin, & Andrew Oaldon. The group will work with the Arts & Cultural Council of Decatur County to raise awareness of, and sense of place, in the ARTisTREE District, which is less than a year old. Read more: Read more: WRBI.com


Portage County Prosperity 2040 Launches 7 Innovative Projects

(Amherst, WI) On Tuesday, May 14 over 60 local leaders, activists, young professionals and change agents gathered at the Lettie W. Jensen Center, Amherst to identify and launch projects to support Portage County Prosperity 2040, a county-wide initiative for future economic and community development.

Prosperity 2040 is co-sponsored by the City of Stevens Point, Portage County, the Village of Plover, and the Portage County Business Council, with support from the Portage County Towns Association. The initiative was co-funded by a grant from the Local Government Institute of Wisconsin.

The focus of the third and final workshop on May 14 was “Strategic Doing,” a method developed at Purdue University that helps broad stakeholder groups identify high impact projects to support their long term vision. At the Jensen Center, meeting participants represented a cross-section of small businesses, nonprofits, the social sector, education, agriculture, and government. Each participant selected one strategy (see list below) critical to the County’s future success, as identified through the previous two workshops.

Prosperity 2040 Strategies

Protect and diversify funding for infrastructure, e.g., roads, alternative transportation options
Protect and diversify funding for environmental needs, e.g., water, natural resources, recreational opportunities
Increase opportunities for residents to live healthy lifestyles, including access and affordability of fresh foods, prevention of chronic diseases, and improved mental health
Attract and retain young people and young families
Improve the economic ecosystem of family-supporting wage jobs
Promote and adopt practices that enable our community to live in balance with our natural resources, e.g., agriculture, groundwater, climate change mitigation
Create an educational system pre-K through 16 that produces a diverse skilled workforce to enhance fiscal growth in the community

By the end of the evening, seven pathfinder projects were launched to begin the “doing”. Projects ranged from a neighborhood vegetable sharing program to promote healthier lifestyles to an electric car-buying cooperative to a community awareness campaign focused on increasing funding for roads and infrastructure.

Sarah Agena, Flexible Nutrition Solutions said, “Last night was an exciting first step to take action on the issues we know will be critical to our region’s success. This is really about doing and community engagement. It is great to see the Business Council, municipalities and all the community involved. I met a lot of new, engaged people through the process.”

The next steps in the process include:

● The seven workgroups have committed to meet again in the next month and are invited to invite other enthusiasts or stakeholders who can help implement their projects. It is not necessary that participants were involved in the previous labs.

● Co-sponsors will meet monthly for the next six months with LGI and the consulting team from NEXT Generation Consulting to roll-up the previous meetings’ outcomes into a community-wide prosperity plan that can be implemented by stakeholders and partners.

Portage County residents who want to get involved can contact Todd Kuckkahn, Executive Director, Portage County Business Council at tkuckkahn@portagecountybiz.com; 715-344-1940. Residents are also invited to weigh-in on priorities for the future by logging onto Polco.us and search for “Portage County Prosperity 2040.” Registration is free and participants can respond to several polls to guide priorities.


Murray-Calloway chamber named finalist for ’19 Chamber of Year



For the second time since 2012, the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce knows it is a finalist for a prestigious national honor.

Tuesday afternoon, the chamber’s office broke into celebration after learning that it had been selected as one of the three finalists for the National Chamber of the Year award in its division by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Murray-Calloway County officials are hoping for the same result as ’12, when the chamber not only was named a finalist but went on to win the title.

“I jumped up and down. Our staff all started jumping up and down. It’s just incredible,” said Murray-Calloway President and CEO Michelle Bundren. When she was named president a little over a year ago, Bundren was already saying the chamber would be making a run at this honor again.

“I wanted to wait, though, until I had about a year under my belt because applying for this requires a lot of time and effort,” she said. “So it’s only been, really, since the beginning of the year that the application process started for us.”

Two of the three steps in that process have been completed. The final step will be taken soon in Long Beach, California when Bundren and Murray-Calloway Chamber Board of Directors Chair LaCosta Hays participate in an interview session that will account for two-thirds of the final score toward determining the winner.

“This is a huge honor for our community, just to be nominated. Obviously, though, we want to win it,” Bundren said, expressing confidence in the fact that the Murray-Calloway chamber has won this before. “In fact, one of the other two finalists was a finalist also in 2017, so that tells you that having success in this before does help.”

Bundren also said Murray-Calloway is one of four chambers from Kentucky to be finalists for national awards this year. She added that if the Murray-Calloway chamber does repeat its success from 2013, the timing could not be much better. The notifications of the winners, including the Chamber of the Year, will be made about a week before the Murray-Calloway chamber hosts its annual Business Celebration (formerly known as the Chamber Dinner).

“That would be the most amazing thing,” Bundren said. “In just being nominated, especially this year, we’ve really done something I think.(Wednesday) I was told that the number of applicants had increased by 20 percent this year, so that tells you that a lot of places around the country think a lot of their communities and are wanting to promote them as much as possible.” Read more: Murray Ledger and Times





The 2018 Greater Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce Community Map

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






Greater Royal Oak Chamber 2018 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.


Sibonie Swatzyna named Hernando Chamber director

There’s been a new face at the Executive Director’s desk of the Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce.

As of Monday, Sibonie Swatzyna began her new position in promoting the business community and the DeSoto County seat in general as the new Chamber Executive Director. It’s appropriate she started this week, since it was National Small Business Week.

Swatzyna arrives after former Executive Director Jessie Dement took on a new position with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital/ALSAC in Memphis.

For the past seven years, Swatzyna has been the Executive Director of the Home Builders Association of North Mississippi, a trade organization is support of area home builders.

But now, she gets to work with the entire business interests of Hernando.

“When this position opened, it became another opportunity to build and be challenged with different things to do,” Swatzyna said. “With the Home Builders, you’re just working with a distinct industry, but here you get to work with all kinds of businesses; retail, nonprofit, people just starting their businesses. It’s just exciting.”

Swatzyna and her husband Roger have rooted themselves in the Hernando community and in DeSoto County. Sibonie is a native of Horn Lake, Roger is an officer with the police department in Hernando and they have lived in Hernando since marriage.

They also a pet rabbit, which Sibonie calls “Thumpman,” who she counts as part of the family.

Prior to her start with the Home Builders Association, Swatzyna worked with the Southaven Chamber of Commerce for five years handling administrative duties there. But she believes her overall experience will help in her mission to now promote business in Hernando.

“We try to find ways to help businesses connect, because that’s really what a Chamber is all about, helping them grow their business, which in turn, helps us because we get new members,” Swatzyna said.

The advantage Hernando has, she feels, is that the city remains an attractive, growing place to live and do business, but holds onto its small, intimate atmosphere. Read more: Desoto Times



Renovated Tazewell railway station opens, houses new Chamber of Commerce


For the first time in 60 years, the former Norfolk & Western Railway station in Tazewell was open for public business. The Restoration and Repurposing Committee, in cooperation with the Tazewell County Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Tazewell, the Board of Supervisors, the Tazewell County Historical Society and the Tazewell County Tourism office, among others, welcomed an estimated crowd of more than 300 to the gala grand opening Saturday.

“We had hoped to fill the 120 seats in the station, and we did,” said Tazewell town council member and committee chair Dr. Terry W. Mullins, who added in opening remarks, “our hearts and this historic building are overflowing on this wonderful day.”

Mullins, who organized the team formed in March 2014, has worked tirelessly with local, state and federal officials along with spirited community support and volunteer efforts to make the dream of opening the station a reality. The 30 members of the team were recognized for their “thousands of volunteer hours” as noted by Mullins.

A mural representing the noted work of outstanding artists Don and Ellen Elmes was unveiled. Architect Barry Rakes spoke and N & W Historical Society representative Tishia Boggs presented Mullins an historic railroad book. Cumberland Plateau’s Jim Baldwin lauded the group’s achievement.

Not only is the station open, but it has become the home of the newly reorganized Tazewell County Chamber of Commerce.

“We are so excited to be here,” said C of C interim Director Pam Meade, who has led the Tazewell Chamber for five years. “We will continue to work on behalf of Tazewell County, and will also be a satellite office of the Tourism Committee. We hope to extend our hours to better serve visitors from far and near and we welcome volunteers to help us do that.”

Rusty Hatfield, whose father, Major, was the last N & W station agent in 1978, gave the invocation and benediction.

He said, “This (restoration) is fantastic. We can all be thankful for what it meant to shoppers, local business, passengers, the soldiers who used it over the years and hopeful for the opportunities now open for the future.” Read more: Bluefield Daily Telegraph



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

Amplify Oshkosh and Oshkosh Area School District Partner with Microsoft to bring TEALS Program to Northeast Wisconsin; SCHOOL'S OUT! Business World Summer Flash Sale through June 1st!; Chamber of Commerce Serving Lexington, Buena Vista, Rockbridge County 2019 Membership Directory and Workforce Development Magazine; Virginia Peninsula Chamber 2019 Military Job Fair; Fredericksburg Regional Chamber Announces Community Conversations Series Kickoff - Powering Our Economy: The Energy Grid and Renewable Energy; Mark Ingrao Departure Announcement: Note from Charlene Wheeless: Chairman of the Board, Greater Reston Chamber; #BestChamber practices: Refer a member: ADP: Let's Grow Together! LGBT Chamber: - 50 Years Later: A New Way of Doing Business; Birmingham-Bloomfield Business After Hours - Speed Networking with Young Professionals; North Central College and NACC Partner To Lead Startup Grind Chapter, Making Naperville A Recognized Hub for Local Entrepreneurs; Logansport Cass County Community Resource Guide and Map; Georgia-Pacific to Expand Bowling Green Facility, Create 50-Plus Jobs; From Nancy Eckerle: Indiana Small Businesses Recognized for Entrepreneurial Success; Workforce Development: ACCE: Build Your Funder Network; 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!


Amplify Oshkosh and Oshkosh Area School District Partner with Microsoft to bring TEALS Program to Northeast Wisconsin

Amplify Oshkosh, a program of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, is excited to partner with the Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) to bring Computer Science to both Oshkosh North and Oshkosh West High Schools. In partnership with Microsoft...

Amplify Oshkosh, a program of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, is excited to partner with the Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) to bring Computer Science to both Oshkosh North and Oshkosh West High Schools. In partnership with Microsoft, the TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools) Program has been brought to Northeast Wisconsin! Please review the attached letter provided by the OASD detailing the commitment that we are looking for from the business/IT community to help deliver this program to our students.

Computer Science is important to the growth of IT in our area, and this is a great step forward to get our students excited about their future careers.

Please reach out to Nicole Peterson or Julie Conrad with any questions that you might have.

View the TEALS Volunteer Letter Here



SCHOOL'S OUT! Business World Summer Flash Sale through June 1st!

School is almost out! We know that students are making their summer plans and we want to be one of those! We are offering a summer flash sale - only $75 through June 1st!

Please help to encourage students to participate in this year's Wisconsin Business World summer program! Our first stop will be at St. Norbert College, June 16-19, followed by UW-Madison, June 23-26. This is an incredible opportunity for students to not only learn more about Wisconsin business and our economy, but it also looks great on resumes, provokes new opportunities to network with other students and uses their creative side invent their own products!

Through our "mini" Business World programs we have impacted more than 2,000 students in the 2018-19 school year. We hope that by your encouragement we can impact even more students this summer!

*Remember, we never want pricing to be an issue - scholarships are available upon request*

Chamber of Commerce Serving Lexington, Buena Vista, Rockbridge County 2019 Membership Directory and Workforce Development Magazine

The new Chamber of Commerce 2018 magazine is available at the Chamber today! Thanks to Tracy Lyons, Chrystal Lee and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Chamber of Commerce Serving Lexington, Buena Vista and Rockbridge County

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.

Virginia Peninsula Chamber 2019 Military Job Fair


The Military Affairs Council of the VIRGINIA PENINSULA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
presents the

In Collaboration with the Military Family Support Center Employment Programs

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Newport News Marriott at City Center
740 Town Center Drive | Newport News, VA

7:30 AM - 8:45 AM
(Vendor Check-in and Set-up)

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
(Open to Active-Duty/Retired Military, Reservist, DOD Civilians, Dependents, and Veterans)

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
(Open to the Public)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Exhibits
Booths (Include One 6 ft. Table, 2 Chairs, and 2 Lunch Tickets)
VPCC Members ................................................................................................................... $300
VPCC Non-Profit Members .................................................................................................. $225
Non-Members ...................................................................................................................... $350
Non-Profit Non-Members ..................................................................................................... $275Additional Table ....................................................................................................... $ 100
Electric ....................................................................................................................... $70
Additional Lunch Ticket .............................................................................................. $25


Fredericksburg Regional Chamber Announces Community Conversations Series Kickoff - Powering Our Economy: The Energy Grid and Renewable Energy

FREDERICKSBURG – The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce will host Kent Farmer, President and CEO of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, and a panel of experts from sPower, Dominion Power and the Nuclear Economics Consulting Group for a discussion about the impact that energy and energy policy has on our regional economy as part of the Community Conversation series presented by Virginia Partners Bank on May 29, 2019. The event will be held at the Fick Conference Center at 8:30 a.m.

Energy plays a significant role in our regional and state economy. Electricity, gas and other fuels power up our industry, our vehicles and our innovation. Join us for a comprehensive discussion on how this works, discuss improvements needed and what we can do to build for the future.

Susan Spears, president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber, stresses the need for a strong energy grid saying, “To keep our economy moving forward, we need a secure, sustainable and efficient energy grid that powers our home, our businesses and our innovation. Without energy, our economy is in the dark.”

Get more information about this series or other Chamber programs by visiting fredericksburgchamber.org or by calling the Chamber office at 540-373-9400.

Mark Ingrao Departure Announcement: Note from Charlene Wheeless: Chairman of the Board, Greater Reston Chamber

It is with mixed emotions that I share with you the resignation of Chamber President and CEO Mark S. Ingrao, CCP, CAE. Mark has accepted a new position as the Chief Executive of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA). He will remain with the Chamber until June 27, 2019 before taking on his new role, giving us enough time to identify a successor.

Mark joined the Chamber in July 2009, taking the helm at a challenging time for the Chamber. Business and government were still reeling from the sharp decline in economic activity of the late 2000's—the most significant downturn since the Great Depression.  

Under Mark’s leadership, despite the business and economic forces, the Chamber’s financial position stabilized, membership increased, and a new sponsorship strategy began positioning the Chamber as a collaborative organization and community steward. Mark led the association to historic milestones, including growing the Chamber from the 13th largest in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area to the 7th largest.

Other notable accomplishments include:

·     Retired $150K in debt within his first year;

·     Reorganized the staff structure more focused on new members and membership benefits; 

·     Positioned the Chamber as a founding member of the Northern Virginia Chamber Partnership, successfully advocating for our members at the Virginia General Assembly; 

·     Led the Chamber’s Taste of Reston festival to being named the “Best Food Festival in Northern Virginia” by Virginia Living Magazine;

·     Launched the B2G Matchmaking and Expo which has become the largest event of its kind for government contractors outside the beltway; and

·     Created Northern Virginia Restaurant Week as a collaboration with other chambers in Northern Virginia;

Please join me in thanking Mark for his stellar leadership, commitment, and contributions to the Chamber and Reston for the past nine and half years, and in wishing him continued success. 

A Search Committee has been formed to source candidates to succeed Mark and further the Chamber’s success.

Sincerely,

Charlene Wheeless

GRCC Chairman of the Board


#BestChamber practices: Refer a member: ADP: Let's Grow Together!

Refer a new member... get a $100 Gift card! 


Contact Membership Director, Ann Scott Miles for more information at a.miles@theadp.com 

LGBT Chamber: - 50 Years Later: A New Way of Doing Business

50 Years Later: A New Way of Doing Business - June 12th, 5:30 - 7:30pm 

 Join the LGBT Chamber of Commerce and the Chicago Loop Alliance of Commerce as we come together to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall. From an era where LGBTQ+ individuals were primarily only welcomed as consumers and employees in the bar and nightlife scene, companies of all sizes have evolved to become more inclusive in their hiring and consumer practices. In this conversation, Tracy Baim will moderate a panel of local business leaders and professionals who will share how the ways we do business with the LGBTQ+ community have evolved over the past 5 decades. 

Birmingham-Bloomfield Business After Hours - Speed Networking with Young Professionals

NEW - Speed Networking with Young Professionals and Comcast Business

Join the BBChamber, our BB Chamber Young Professionals and COMCAST Business for our Spring Speed Networking Event at Andiamo Bloomfield! Click here for details and registration!

June 6, 2019
Andiamo Bloomfield
5:30 - 7:00 PM

Registration and details at Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber

North Central College and NACC Partner To Lead Startup Grind Chapter, Making Naperville A Recognized Hub for Local Entrepreneurs

Naperville joins Chicago as one of only two Illinois cities to receive Startup Grind designation

Naperville, Ill., May 21, 2019 – Local entrepreneurs have a new network and opportunity thanks to a partnership between North Central College and the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC). The two entities came together to help Naperville earn the designation as a Startup Grind chapter, the world’s largest independent startup community. Due in part to the College’s School of Business and Entrepreneurship and Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, its campus community has helped foster a startup culture in the city of Naperville.

In partnership with Google for Startups, Startup Grind is designed to inform, connect and inspire innovators and entrepreneurs. The global startup community is a network of entrepreneurs with over 1.5 million members across 125 countries, with the launch of the Naperville chapter being just the second in Illinois.

“Naperville is a bustling hub of entrepreneurial activity and what better way to get students involved and inspired than hosting events like Startup Grind on campus that bring together people who are passionate about entrepreneurship,” said Karen Bartuch, executive director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at North Central College, who will serve as the Startup Grind chapter director. “This is an amazing global community of entrepreneurs and we are proud to bring it to Naperville and the North Central campus.”

The College has partnered with the NACC to continue building its business partnerships throughout the community. Nicki Anderson, NACC president and CEO, will serve as Naperville’s co-director of Startup Grind.

“A vibrant community like ours has every opportunity to be as relevant and innovative as we can,” said Anderson. “The recent partnership between the Chamber and the College to host Startup Grind demonstrates our commitment to staying ahead of the curve and looking for ‘what’s next.’ Where there’s a vision and innovation there’s opportunity, and we’ve never shied away from seizing those opportunities.”

The core of the program is a schedule of monthly events featuring local entrepreneurs, investors and experts in startups, sharing their advice and stories of innovation.

North Central College kicks off its inaugural Startup Grind event on Thursday, May 30, at 6 p.m. in Larrance Academic Center, 309 E. School Street, Naperville. The event is entitled, “Evolving Venture Capital to Meet the Needs of Today’s Entrepreneurs,” and will feature New Stack Ventures founder and managing partner Nick Moran. Moran is also a tenant in North Central’s on campus co-working space.

New Stack Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that invests in founders at the earliest stages of company formation. It invests out of a fund and also leads the largest Angel Syndicate in the Midwest, a group of over 400 angels who co-invest in New Stack deals. Prior to serving as the founder and general partner at New Stack Ventures, Moran worked for Danaher, a global science and technology innovator. After a few years in mergers and acquisitions, Moran led a breakthrough innovation, developing one of the most successful products in the company’s history. In addition to investing, he founded the first venture capital podcast, The Full Ratchet.

For information on North Central’s inaugural Startup Grind event and to register to attend, visit Startup Grind.


Logansport Cass County Community Resource Guide and Map

The Logansport Cass County Community Guide and map is available at the Chamber today! Thanks to the Bill, Teresa and the chamber members for their help and direction putting this together! 

Logansport Cass County Chamber Directory and 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. 


Georgia-Pacific to Expand Bowling Green Facility, Create 50-Plus Jobs

Gov. Matt Bevin has announced Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products Group will expand its existing operation in Bowling Green with a nearly $100 million investment expected to create more than 50 full-time jobs.

“Georgia-Pacific’s investment of $100 million demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to the commonwealth and the Bowling Green community,” Gov. Bevin said. “For nearly three decades, the Dixie facility has served up opportunities for Kentuckians, and this latest announcement of more than 50 new full-time jobs will provide our highly-skilled workforce with even more pathways to success. Georgia-Pacific produces some of the world’s most iconic household name brands, and we are grateful they have found an enduring home here in Kentucky, America’s engineering and manufacturing center of excellence.”

Georgia-Pacific will grow its plant’s footprint in the South Central Kentucky Industrial Park by 80,000 square feet to increase production capacity for Dixie plates and bowls. Construction is already underway, and company leaders anticipate the project will be finished in the first half of 2020.

“This is great news for our Dixie business and the Bowling Green plant. This expansion will help us continue meeting the needs of our customers as demand continues to grow for high-quality, durable paper plates and bowls,” said Erik Sjogren, vice president and general manager of livingware at Georgia-Pacific. “We believe this expansion will also position our Bowling Green Dixie facility to remain competitive in the market and in the local community for the long term.”

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries produce bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, building products and related chemicals. The company’s brands include Quilted Northern®, Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Sparkle®, Mardi Gras® and Vanity Fair®. The company has also long been a supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large DIY warehouse retailers. Georgia-Pacific operates nearly 200 facilities and directly employs approximately 35,000 people.

Georgia-Pacific opened the Bowling Green operation in 1992, and the plant has seen several expansions over the past 27 years. The facility produces about one quarter of all the company’s paper plates and bowls. Georgia-Pacific also operates a Dixie facility in Lexington. In total, the company directly employs nearly 500 Kentuckians. Since 2013, the company has invested $66 million in its Kentucky operations.

Sen. Mike Wilson, of Bowling Green, expressed gratitude for the company’s commitment.

“I want to thank Georgia-Pacific for bringing this major investment to Bowling Green,” Sen. Wilson said. “Not only will this project bring in additional jobs, but also an increase in Dixie bowls and plates that is sure to be appreciated throughout the upcoming summer months.”

Rep. Steve Sheldon, of Bowling Green, said changing state policies have helped spearhead this type of growth.

“This is great news for Bowling Green and our region. Georgia-Pacific has been a good corporate citizen and the 50 jobs they are adding with this expansion means a lot to our local economy,” Rep. Sheldon said. “This is more evidence that the pro-jobs, pro-economic development policies we are passing in Frankfort are paying off across the state. Add this to national studies that show average hourly earnings are increasing at rates we haven’t seen since 2009 and we have a formula for economic progress and an improved quality of life.”

Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson said he expects the company’s upward trajectory to continue.

“We celebrate with Georgia-Pacific on this new facility expansion,” Mayor Wilkerson said. “Georgia-Pacific’s global footprint is seen right here in Bowling Green; we are proud to have them here and are excited for their continued investment and growth.”

Warren County Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon noted the significance of the project for the local economy.

“Congratulations to Georgia-Pacific on this great project. This expansion will have an economic impact of over $194 million over the next ten years in south central Kentucky,” Judge-Executive Buchanon said. “We are grateful for businesses like Georgia-Pacific that continue to invest in our community and our economy.”

Ron Bunch, president and CEO of Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, said Georgia-Pacific holds a special place within the community.

“Georgia-Pacific is a valuable operation in the South Central Kentucky Industrial Park and a tremendous asset to this community,” Bunch said. “They are an integral part of our region’s diverse economy. We are excited to announce this expansion and look forward to their many more years of success in our community.” Source: WMKY 90.3 FM

From Nancy Eckerle: Indiana Small Businesses Recognized for Entrepreneurial Success

The Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which is a program of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), honored 14 small businesses today for their work to help grow Indiana’s economy and strengthen communities across the state. 
"With more than 512,000 companies employing 1.2 million Hoosiers, small businesses play a critical role in maintaining long-term economic growth in Indiana and supporting good jobs in our communities," said Elaine Bedel, president of the IEDC. "As a state, we're committed to building on the entrepreneurial climate that has helped launch companies like the ones being honored today and equipping Hoosier innovators with the tools they need to start and grow their dream businesses."
Each award winner received business counseling from the Indiana SBDC, which provides entrepreneurs with expert guidance and resources on how to start and grow a business, including strategy development, business planning and valuation, export assistance and market research. The Small Business Impact Awards annually honor small businesses that received assistance from the organization's 10 regional offices.

This year, the Indiana SBDC unveiled four new, statewide awards at its program, recognizing the contributions of clients who have made a significant economic or community impact in Indiana. The 2019 honorees are: 

• Community Impact Award: Bodyworks Studio (Logansport), founded by Natasha Walters in 2011, is a yoga studio offering programs and services aimed at boosting Hoosiers’ physical, emotional and spiritual health. At its two locations in Logansport and Monticello, the company provides yoga classes for all body types and fitness levels and nutrition programs emphasizing locally-grown products. Bodyworks Studio continues to utilize the Indiana SBDC’s expert assistance to enhance its business plan and secure additional financing. Along with Bodyworks Studio’s local food initiative, Walters volunteers at the Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility, teaching young offenders through the facility’s Insight Garden Program, which combines permaculture gardening principles with meditation and mindfulness techniques to support their acclimation back into society.
   
• Innovative Small Business of the Year: Heliponix (Evansville), led by Purdue University graduates Scott Massey and Ivan Ball, is an agbioscience startup that commercialized an automated, aeroponic appliance called a GroPod™ to allow consumers to grow produce in the convenience of their own homes. The company’s innovative technology cultivates produce three times faster than conventional farming methods, using 95 percent less water and without pesticides. For example, the GroPod™ can yield a full head of leafy greens in a single day. Since its inception in 2016, Heliponix has utilized the Indiana SBDC, Purdue Foundry and Elevate Ventures, the IEDC’s venture development partner, to fuel its growth in Indiana.
   
• Social Enterprise of the Year: Bitchstix (Indianapolis), founded by Indianapolis-native Emily Kennerk in 2016, is a face and skin care company selling lip balms and skin products made with organic, environmentally-friendly ingredients. To support its growth, Kennerk worked with the Indiana SBDC on an exporting strategy, which allowed her to expand into Canadian and European markets. Sales have doubled each year since the company was started, exceeding $400,000 last year, and the company’s brand and social impact continue to gain recognition throughout central Indiana. In support of the community, Bitchstix encourages retailers each year to nominate domestic violence awareness or sexual assault prevention programs to receive charitable support from the company.
   
• Veteran Small Business of the Year: Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery (Indianapolis) is the first combat-disabled, veteran-owned distillery in the nation and the first artisan distillery in Indianapolis since Prohibition. The company’s name was inspired by owner Travis Barnes’ military background, which included three tours in Iraq with the U.S. Marines. After launching, Barnes, along with his wife, Hilary, utilized the Indiana SBDC for permitting assistance and market research, and continue to work with the organization as they expand production and distribution. Additionally, the distillery closed on a $2 million Series A funding round. Hotel Tango also hosts an annual event with the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation called Operation Alpha to support Hoosier veterans throughout the state. 

The 2019 Small Business Impact Award recipients, based on the Indiana SBDC's 10 regional offices, are:

• Central: NinjaZone (Indianapolis), founded by Casey Wright in 2014, offers a sports-focused children’s activity curriculum fusing martial arts, gymnastics, obstacle training and freestyle movement to fuel the athletic and character development of boys and girls ages 18 months to 13 years old. The company, which licenses its curriculum to more than 300 gyms and serves over 100,000 children globally, also runs a competition series, the Ninja Games, to showcase the skills and experience children obtain while participating in the program. With Indiana SBDC one-on-one counseling, NinjaZone created a strategic plan aimed at boosting brand recognition and attracting capital. In recognition of the company’s success, Wright was also named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2019 Small Business Person of the Year in Indiana.
   
• East Central: Farmhouse Creative (Muncie), founded by Angie Rogers-Howell in 2012, is a woman-owned marketing and branding firm specializing in print and digital marketing. From brand strategy and content management solutions to print marketing materials and website design, the company, which currently has three full-time employees, offers a one-stop shop for marketing services for small businesses and nonprofits in Indiana. Farmhouse Creative continues to work with the Indiana SBDC to enhance its business model and marketing strategies. 
   
• Hoosier Heartland: Little Engine Ventures (Lafayette) was launched by Daryl Starr and Mikel Berger in 2016 as an investment partnership focused on acquiring numerous small businesses per year. The firm’s present focus is in north central Indiana with revenue below $10 million. Little Engine Ventures regularly utilizes the Indiana SBDC for industry-specific market research. The partnership then deploys a one-of-a-kind investment strategy in Indiana and surrounding states, with a goal to encourage company growth by integrating new technologies and operating processes.
   
• North Central: Ninja Golf! (Granger), founded by John Miller in 2017, is a Japanese garden-themed miniature golf complex with three nine-hole courses, a Kabuki theatre, laser maze and a snack bar featuring traditional Japanese food and beverages. By leveraging Indiana SBDC services such as market analysis and loan assistance, the company was able to overcome key challenges in launching its first Ninja Golf! facility and plans to scale the business with additional locations and franchises.
   
• Northeast: Spectrum Virtual Reality Arcade (Fort Wayne), a virtual reality games and experiences arcade, was started by Waylon Fisher and Brandon Barker, who both participated in Fort Wayne Community Schools’ New Tech Academy. After working with the Indiana SBDC on the company’s business plan and financial projections, and applying the 21st-century technology skills obtained through the academy, the entrepreneurs opened their first location in Fort Wayne and have since added a second. Spectrum Virtual Reality Arcade allows its customers to immerse themselves in games using virtual reality headsets in rooms that accommodate multiple users.
   
• Northwest: Lokring Midwest (Valparaiso), an exclusive distributor of Ohio-based Lokring Technology weld alternative pipe and tube fittings, is a veteran-owned business serving nuclear, petrochemical, health care, steel and defense customers across the Midwest. Started by U.S. Army-veteran Steve Burke in 2009, the company, which has four full-time employees in northwest Indiana, has undergone multiple expansions with the help of the Indiana SBDC and plans to break ground on a new warehouse this year.
   
• South Central: Matrix Integration (Jasper), founded by entrepreneur Brenda Stallings in 1979, is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise and IT solution provider providing technology infrastructure, professional services and lifecycle-managed services. To support its growth, the Indiana SBDC offered location assistance to Matrix Integration, which allowed the company to expand and hire more Hoosiers. The company now has 80 employees across three locations in Indiana and Kentucky, serving more than 1,000 companies in industries ranging from finance and utilities to higher education and manufacturing.
   
• Southeast: Indiana Caverns (Corydon) is a family tourist destination offering tours and exhibits to the Midwest’s longest cave and the 7th largest cave in the nation. In 2012, the caverns were developed under the leadership of Gary Roberson, who had been actively exploring the cave system since 1967. As part of the Binkley Cave System, in total spanning more than 44 miles and still growing, the Indiana Caverns attracted more than 35,000 visitors in 2018, allowing its guests to experience attractions and explore the cave system at 110 feet below ground. The company is committed to increasing awareness of southern Indiana’s rich geological history, and, with Indiana SBDC assistance in securing financing, adding new attractions to enhance the tourism industry in Harrison County.
   
• Southwest: Tri-State Cylinder Head (Evansville), which specializes in high-precision, cast-iron welding and machining, is a HUBZone-certified manufacturer founded by Ron Schmitt in 1991. With the help of market reports drafted by the Indiana SBDC, the business was later purchased by Lucas Recker and Kyle Sharrer in 2017. The company recently announced plans to nearly double its workforce and invest more than $2.5 million to upgrade its 20,000-square-foot facility in Evansville, installing state-of-the-art equipment and custom welding infrastructure to support increased demand for its cylinder head remanufacturing.
   
• West Central: Honeysuckle Hill Bee-stro (Brazil), which opened in 2017, is a family-owned, seasonal restaurant integrating honey produced by owners and local beekeepers, Andy and Jodi Lohrman, in its recipes. The restaurant also hosts private events and has a gift shop featuring its honey and locally-made home and kitchen products. When starting its business, the Bee-stro worked with the Indiana SBDC on its business plan, financial projections and marketing strategy.

Additionally, Matrix Integration and Tri-State Cylinder Head utilized services provided by the Indiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center to fuel their growth in Indiana.

Photos of the award winners will be uploaded following the ceremony. Please click here to access the photos. 
These awards are presented in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)'s National Small Business Week. Governor Eric J. Holcomb also issued a proclamation this week declaring May 5-11, 2019 as Small Business Week in Indiana, highlighting the important role small businesses play in Indiana's economy. Indiana received an 'A' grade for ease of starting a business (Thumbtack 2018), and ranks No. 1 in the Midwest and No. 6 in the nation for entrepreneur friendliness (SBE Council Small Business Policy Index 2019). 
 
About Indiana SBDC
The Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is hosted by the IEDC, which leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping entrepreneurs launch, grow and locate businesses in the state. The Indiana SBDC provides entrepreneurs with expert guidance and resources on how to start and grow a business. With a network of 10 regional offices through the state, the Indiana SBDC creates a positive and measureable impact on the formation, growth and sustainability of Indiana's small businesses.
 
The Indiana SBDC is funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. For more information about the Indiana SBDC, visit www.isbdc.org.
About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov. 



Workforce Development: ACCE: Build Your Funder Network

Want to improve your workforce programming but don’t have the funding to support your needs? Learn about helpful tools for fundraising and develop a plan for your next steps in this week's webinar featuring David Rattray, executive vice president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber.


ACCE: Become an Education and Talent Development Fellow
Are you moving the needle on education and talent in your community? Ready to take your work to the next level? Our Fellowship for Education & Talent Development is an immersive experience that connects chamber pros to improve education and talent outcomes in communities of all sizes. We’re now accepting applications for the next cohort of Fellows. Learn more and apply here (by June 14).

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

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

Mclean County Chamber: Education to Employment SUMMIT Today; #FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!); Bowling Green and GLI named Chamber of the Year finalists; City of Ridgeland Chamber: Join our Women to Women Committee; Rob Parker Selected for U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program; Birmingham Bloomfield 2018-2019 Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide; Kernersville Chamber of Commerce: Talent Supply; 2019 Leadership Greater Rochester Graduation; Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Events; Arlington Chamber Represents Businesses in Supporting Route 1 Renaming; Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce: A Cedarburg Snapshot; Effingham County Chamber named finalist for industry award; Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce Shark Tank Video; IACCE 2018 Chamber of the Year Jefferson County Chamber Community Guide; Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce Event on June 4th --- Impact of Increase in Minimum Wage for Small Businesses; Mayor, Chamber Of Commerce Push For Rockford Casino; Best practices for financing Illinois infrastructure: A conference summary; A Chamber Legend is on the Move... Joseph Henning named new president, CEO of Henry Chamber of Commerce; 3Sip Soda: 'Really good soda made by pretty good guys'; Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Maps and Community Profiles: The best in the U.S.

Happy Monday #Chamber World! It's going to be a GREAT week!

Mclean County Chamber: Education to Employment SUMMIT Today

THIS MONDAY! 4pm - 6pm | Heartland Community College

Check-out COMPACT Board Chairman, Tony Coletta, busting out his CRAZY sign spinning skills!

Join us for engaging conversations on innovation and collaboration between education and industry, and how a shared vision of strengthening our workforce will build a stronger community. Free to attend!

Register Here!

--- Keynote Presentations ---

INNOVATION & COLLABORATION

How Education & Industry Can Partner to Build the Foundations of Success

Dr. Mark Daniel, Superintendent, Unit 5

Dr. Barry Reilly, Superintendent, District 87

The McLean County Public Education System represents the foundation for the continued economic development and success of our community. This can only be achieved through an effective collaboration with industry partners to develop innovative learning opportunities for our students.


HITTING THE MARK How Education is Answering the Call

Gary Tipsord, Superintendent, LeRoy Schools

Tom Frazier, Director, Bloomington Area Career Center

Public Education continues to be adaptive and responsive to the ever evolving demands of industry and uses a forward thinking approach to producing high quality students capable of performing in the modern world. In this presentation we will show how schools are meeting industry needs and the specific demands of McLean County employers.


Breakout Sessions Include:


INNOVATION & RESPONSIVENESS: INTRODUCTION TO THE “NEW” COLLAR

Addressing Employer Needs Through Innovation and Collaboration
Gary Tipsord, Superintendent of LeRoy Schools & Tim Frazier, Director, Bloomington Area Career Center


CAREER & COLLEGE PATHWAYS: DEVELOPING OUR FUTURE TALENT PIPELINE

Aligning Education to Career Readiness
Dr. Andrew Wise, Superintendent of Olympia CUSD 16 & Laura O’Donnell, Assistant Superintendent of Olympia CUSD 16

WORK BASED LEARNING, INTERNSHIPS & OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH STUDENTS

The Employers Role in Preparing Students for Work
Rebecca Henderson, SMARTPath Education Services & Julie Hinman, Unit 5 Instructor for Innovative Entrepreneurs



#FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!)


“Life is simple. Everything happens for you, not to you. Everything happens at exactly the right moment, neither too soon nor too late.” Byron Katie



Bowling Green and GLI named Chamber of the Year finalists

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) have been named as two of three finalists nationwide for the prestigious American Chamber of Commerce Executive’s 2019 Chamber of the Year.


This most recent honor marks the sixth time in six years that the Bowling Green Chamber has been invited to apply for Chamber of the Year and the fourth time in as many years that the Chamber has been named a national finalist. Each year, the ACCE invites a limited number of its more than 1,300 members to apply for the award. The application process involves a rigorous review of a chamber’s structure, finances, member engagement, services and programs.

Chamber of the Year is the nation’s only award recognizing the dual role chambers have in leading businesses and communities. Chambers honored with this designation demonstrate organizational strength and impact key community priorities such as education, transportation, business development and quality of life. The award involves a multi-stage process including a detailed operations survey, application and interview. Only select chambers nationwide are asked to compete beyond the operations survey. The application process takes several weeks, with each department submitting detailed information and case studies on programs and initiatives. Finalists are then named based on scoring of the in-depth application process. From there, each finalist undergoes a 45-minute interview before a panel of judges comprised of former winners.

“We are thrilled to once again be named a finalist for the Chamber of the Year Award. The invitation-only application process is rigorous and comprehensive, and we wouldn’t be here without the hard work of our volunteers, our Chamber leadership, and our professional Chamber staff,” said Ron Bunch, president and CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. “Adding to our successful year of accolades, we are proud to once again be recognized on the national stage.”

Without lapse since 1972, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce has maintained its status as a 5-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce, as named by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, placing us in the top one percent of all chambers in America. The accreditation process is a comprehensive examination of every aspect of a chamber’s operations over a two-year period, including governance, finance, human resources, government affairs, program development, technology, communications, facilities and bench-marking.

Beyond its continued 5-Star accreditation, the Chamber has celebrated many 2019 accolades including:
Bowling Green was ranked first in Site Selection magazine’s Top Metros annual report of high-performing metros among communities with populations less than 200,000 based on total economic development projects for the year
Bowling Green named Best Place to Live in Kentucky by TIME.com
Bowling Green ranked among Best Small Cities for Business in 2019 by chamberofcommerce.org
Bowling Green named among Best Small Cities for New Grads by onlinedegrees.com
8th Place Best Micro City for Human Capital & Lifestyle and 10th Place Best Micro City for Cost Effectiveness by fDi Financial Times



GLI, the Metro Chamber of Commerce and largest convener of business leadership in the 15-county region, was previously named ACCE’s Chamber of the Year in 2007 and was a finalist in 2018. Earlier this year GLI received five-star designation from the United States Chamber of Commerce, a designation earned by only three percent of chambers of commerce in the U.S. The other two 2019 ACCE large Chamber of the Year finalists are the Salt Lake City Chamber and Greater Irving-Las Colinas chambers of commerce.

“GLI is a high-functioning chamber focused on growing the regional economy. As we recruit for the Louisville region to grow jobs, cultivate the workforce and advocate for the business community we are proud to be one of the top chambers in the country,” said Kent Oyler, president and CEO of GLI.

Chamber of the Year winners will be announced at the annual ACCE Convention July 14-17, 2019 in Long Beach, California.

City of Ridgeland Chamber: Join our Women to Women Committee

TO:  Ridgeland Chamber Members

Our dynamic, fun committee Women to Women will begin meeting soon to plan our August Celebration Luncheon.

If you would like to serve on this exciting committee, please sign up and we will inform you on a date for our first meeting.

Thank you for your support of our dynamic Chamber and great City.

Sincerely,

Linda Bynum


Rob Parker Selected for U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program

Fellowship Provides State and Local Chambers with Opportunities to Engage Nationally on Critical Education and Workforce Issues

 The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced Rob Parker, President & CEO of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce was selected to participate in the third cohort of its premiere business leadership program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges.

“Education and Workforce are paramount to the success of a nation. In Kosciusko county, our cluster of Orthopedic companies are the envy of many other communities. Beyond Orthopedics, we have many other national and international leaders in business and manufacturing. Making sure that our community has a diverse and plentiful workforce capable of solving tomorrow’s problems is critical to our growth and success”, commented Parker.

“We created the Business Leads Fellowship Program in response to the needs of our state and local chamber partners,” says Cheryl Oldham, Senior Vice President of the Center for Education and Workforce. “They, better than anyone, see the critical link between education and economic development, and we are glad to be able to support them as they take on this critical leadership role in their community.”

Following a competitive application and selection process, Rob Parker was selected along with 33 other state and local chamber executives to participate in the third class of this program. The four-month program, which concludes in September 2019, will cover the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education, and workforce development.

Upon completion, Business Leads Fellows will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of 200 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives.

  

For a full list of participants in the Business Leads Fellowship Program, visit the U.S. Chamber Foundation website.


Birmingham Bloomfield 2018-2019 Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide 

The Birmingham-Bloomfield 2018-2019 Membership Directory and Community Resource Guide is available at the Birmingham-Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Joe Bauman and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

Birmingham-Bloomfield 2018-2019 Member Directory

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.


Kernersville Chamber of Commerce: Talent Supply


I hope this email finds you well. We have a new committee at the Chamber called Talent Supply. This committee is working to revamp our partnership between our local schools and businesses. We have been meeting since Janaury and are looking forward to developing a new program that will be rolled out at the Annual Banquet in November.

The committee is working on finding out what needs our community and our businesses have in regards to talent supply and hiring. We are asking that you take five minutes out of your day to complete this survey the commitee has worked on. Below you will find the link. Thank you for your time!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JGB8LTBTaylor Thornton 
Director of Programs & Memberships
Kernersville Chamber of Commerce
136 East Mountain Street
Kernersville. NC. 27284
336-993-4521 - office
336-416-5405 – cell
336-993-3756 – fax

2019 Leadership Greater Rochester Graduation

On Thursday, May 16, the Rochester Regional Chamber Foundation celebrated the graduation of the 2018-2019 Leadership Greater Rochester class at Great Oaks Country Club. The event was filled with fun, great food, and inspirational addresses from Coach Garth Pleasant, Professor of Physical Education and Chair of the Department of Physical Education at Rochester University, and Andrew Grabinski, a member of this year’s graduating class.

Thank you to Par Pharmaceutical for sponsoring the Leadership Greater Rochester program and to Flagstar Bank for sponsoring the Leadership Graduation. Also, thank you to our partners and all who attended.

Congratulations to the Leadership Greater Rochester class of 2018-2019!

If you are interested in participating in the 2019-2020 Leadership Greater Rochester program, please contact Maggie Bobitz at 248-651-6700 or maggieb@rrc-mi.com.


Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Events

http://www.virginiapeninsulachamber.com/events/calendar/

June 13: Pink Bag Luncheon

Speaker:          C. Renee Turner, ECPI University

Topic:              M.O.V.E. (Making Obstacles a Vehicle for Empowerment)

Location:         Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

                        21 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 100 | Hampton, VA  23666

Time:               11:30 AM – 1:00 PM (Check-in and Lunch 11:30 AM – Noon)

Fee:                 Members: $7 | Non-Members: $14 (Lunch Included)

Registration:    http://www.virginiapeninsulachamber.com/events/details/2019-pbl-m-o-v-e-9867

Arlington Chamber Represents Businesses in Supporting Route 1 Renaming

Last week, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved a request from the Arlington County Board to rename Route 1 as “Richmond Highway” in Arlington. The new name is the same name that the road uses in Alexandria and Fairfax, and will replace the current name “Jefferson Davis Highway.” The Chamber reached out to all members on Route 1 for their feedback regarding the proposed change. The overwhelming majority of members on Route 1 supported the change, with several noting that they would prefer enough lead time to implement the logistics of a change.

With this feedback, the Chamber Board voted to support the name change, and the Chamber sent a letter to the Virginia Secretary of Transportation supporting renaming as of October 1. The letter cited a desire to have the same name as in neighboring jurisdictions, problems being caused by Google Maps already using the “Richmond Highway” name, and stories of members that have lost business because of the association of their street address with “Jefferson Davis Highway.” Government Affairs Manager Scott Pedowitz spoke at the CTB meeting to reiterate the business case before the unanimous vote to approve.

Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce: A Cedarburg Snapshot
Have your questions answered -

the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce is asking for help with questions for our panel:

City of Cedarburg Mayor, Mike O'Keefe,
Town of Cedarburg Chairman, Dave Salvaggio,
& Cedarburg School District Superintendent Todd Bugnacki

at A Cedarburg Snapshot, presented by Port Washington State Bank

Each member of the panel will be asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to answer. There will also be time for Q&A from those attending the event. Submitted questions will be kept anonymous. Please e-mail your questions to the chamber for consideration by clicking the button below before May 28. Any additional comments, please let us know.

E-mail your question for consideration

Still need to register? Click the invitation below or register by calling the chamber at (262) 377-5856 by May 24.

A Cedarburg Snapshot is open to all - residents, business owners, building owners - anyone with interest in our community!

Effingham County Chamber named finalist for industry award

The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce has been named a finalist for the 2019 Chamber of the Year award, presented by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. The award is the most prestigious and competitive recognition presented annually by ACCE, an association of more than 8,000 professionals from 1,300 chambers of commerce, including 93 of the top 100 U.S. metro areas.

The Chamber of the Year award recognizes the leadership role chambers have in their communities. Those recognized have demonstrated organizational strength and made an impact on key community priorities, such as education, transportation, business development and quality of life.

Qualifying for Chamber of the Year is a rigorous process. Chambers compete based on meeting key performance criteria on the ACCE Annual Operations Survey and must meet at least three of five key performance areas, including net revenue and assets, membership account retention, and membership dollar retention.


Qualifying chambers enter the competition with a written application addressing all aspects of organizational operation and programmatic work. Applications are scored by peer chamber executives to determine finalists. Winners are selected from among finalists based on an in-person interview before a panel of experienced chamber professionals.

ACCE announced the 12 finalsist for 2019 on May 7.

The Effingham County Chamber has qualified in Category 1 along with Murray-Calloway Chamber of Commerce in Murray, Kentucky and the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce in Wooster, Ohio.


“Qualifying for this award is due to the dedication and work of our Board of Directors, volunteer teams and Chamber professional staff to make sure the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce meets the needs of our membership as well as building and strengthening relationships that stimulate the regional economy. We are honored to be among this prestigious group of chambers and look forward to the next step in the selection process,” said Norma Lansing, Chamber President & CEO.

Chamber of the Year winners will be announced July 15 at the 2019 ACCE Annual Convention in Long Beach, Calif.


Barrington Area Chamber: Sign up for Women's Biz Net Program on May 30: "Professionalize Your Presence"


Sign up today for networking, lunch and a Women's Biz Net program on how to "Professionalize Your Presence," Thursday, May 30 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at The Garlands, 1000 Garlands Ln. in Barrington. Speaker and small business coach Julie Kittredge, LLC will present simple truths for building your online presence so that it's recognizable, consistent and intentional. Cost is $30 for BACC members/$40 for guests, which includes networking, lunch and the program. Click here to register.

Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce Shark Tank Video

Thought you would enjoy seeing the Shark Tank video.
The power of Chamber connecting stakeholders in the community!
Would love to have you be my guest on Wednesday, May 15th at Noon; Stratford Middle School
251 Butterfield, Bloomingdale to watch the Top 5 be judged by Steve Romanelli and Steven Shei.
Let me know if you can attend!

Contact Miriam Iwrey, CEO, Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce  For more information

Located in the Holiday Inn & Suites, 150 S. Gary Ave, Carol Stream IL 60188
630.665.3325 -   info@carolstreamchamber.com www.carolstreamchamber.com
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IACCE 2018 Chamber of the Year Jefferson County Chamber Community Guide   

The Jefferson County Chamber Community Guide  is available at the chamber of commerce today! Thank you to Philip "Mike" Beard and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Community 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.

Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce Event on June 4th --- Impact of Increase in Minimum Wage for Small Businesses

June 4th: Impact of Increase in Minimum Wage for Small Businesses. Speaker: Dr. Amlan Mitra, Professor of Economics at Purdue University Northwest & Adjunct Professor at College of DuPage. This presentation will provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of minimum wage increase on small businesses. Based on past studies, Dr. Mitra will highlight the "perceptions" and "facts" on how prices and labor costs impact both retail business and consumers. Case studies on how small businesses prepare and respond to minimum wage increase will be shared along with time at the end of the presentation for Q & A. Participating Chambers include: Addison, Bartlett Area, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn and Glendale Heights. More Information: Carol Stream Chamber of Commerce

Mayor, Chamber Of Commerce Push For Rockford Casino

Mayor Tom McNamara will travel to Springfield this week to further the city’s push for a casino license.

McNamara, along with Rockford Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Einar Forsman, addressed media Monday to expound on a letter they penned that was published in the Chicago-Sun Times and Chicago Tribune. The letter congratulates the Mayor-Elect Lori Lightfoot on her recent win and offers support for Chicago’s efforts to obtain a license.

The chamber will also run print and digital ads in the Springfield Journal Register to urge Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the General Assembly to approve casino licenses in Chicago and Rockford.

“Now is the time to act for the city of Rockford to get a casino,” Mayor Tom McNamara said. “We’ve talked about this literally before I could drive. It’s been well over 20 years since our community has wanted and has been working towards a casino.”

McNamara said a casino in Rockford could mean 800 to 1,100 jobs and has the potential for the city to collect between This is $6 million to $8 million in revenue.

“We need the state legislature to act and bring the city of Rockford a casino,” McNamara said. “This is incredibly important to the city of Rockford. There’s always been a sense of urgency, but I believe that the sense of urgency has stepped up as we see Beloit moving further and further down the road to having their own casino. We have enough of the state of Illinois taxes leaving Illinois and going to other states like Wisconsin and Indiana. Now is the time to stop that flow of our money going outside of our state and keep it right here in the city of Rockford.”  Read more: Rock River Times

Best practices for financing Illinois infrastructure: A conference summary

by Richard H. Mattoon, senior economist and policy advisor, and Sarah Wetmore, vice president and director of research, Civic Federation

On April 5, 2019, more than 140 academics, business leaders, government officials, and policy researchers came to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to explore how best to design and finance an infrastructure program for Illinois. The program, presented by the Civic Federation and the Chicago Fed, focused on how to improve the transparency of infrastructure project selection and to ensure that sustainable funding is identified to support efficient infrastructure operation. Read more

A Chamber Legend is on the Move...

Joseph Henning named new president, CEO of Henry Chamber of Commerce

Joseph Henning has been named the new president and chief executive officer of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce.

Henning is currently the president and chief executive officer of the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce in Aurora, Ill., in suburban Chicago. He has held that position since 2005.

Henning will replace David Gill, who has led the Henry County Chamber of Commerce since 2012. He announced his retirement several months ago and will work with Henning through the transition process.

“The Henry County Chamber position is a great opportunity for me to put my skill sets to work in a very fast-paced, growing area,” Henning said in a press release. “Georgia is known for its progressive business climate, and I look forward to working with the leaders in Henry County, the region and state to build an even stronger chamber.”

Henning said he feels his experiences in Aurora will match the needs of Henry County.

“I look forward to becoming a part of the leadership team in the community,” Henning said.

Sharon Ponder, the 2019 chair of the Chamber and the vice president of finance for Bennett International Group, said Henning is the right person for the job.

“Joe’s expertise and understanding of the important role a Chamber plays in the growth and development of a community in terms of leadership, infrastructure and creating an inclusive, pro-business environment are the key reasons the search committee identified him as the right leader for Henry County,” Ponder said in a press release. “The Chamber has a solid foundation that Davis, the internal team and our membership have established over the years.”

Henning also served as the chair of the National Board of Trustees for the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management in 2016-17 and continues as an instructor for classes throughout the country.

3Sip Soda: 'Really good soda made by pretty good guys'

A couple of summers ago, three good friends stumbled upon a great idea that laid the cornerstone of a future business venture.

Will Rambo was on a business trip in North Carolina, inviting two of his closest pals, John-Michael Marlin and Spencer Gray, to join him.

“We had stopped by to grab something to drink, and the lady there said they had a local company that made its own soda,” Rambo said.

More than willing to give it a try, they did. And they liked it.

Each of them bought several cases to take back home to let friends and family enjoy as well.

“We bought a sample of every flavor we could find,” Rambo said. “It was really, really good, and we were just fascinated by it.”

On their way back to Mississippi, they couldn’t stop talking about the sodas, and the possibilities and opportunities that bottling their own soda in Tupelo might mean.

“There’s such an emphasis on local foods and local businesses we just knew there was a gap somewhere to fill,” Rambo said.

After tossing about the idea to their families and friends, the trio decided to make their own syrups to mix with seltzers. Their homemade sodas were tried and tested over several cookouts in the backyard .

Some were hits. Some, not so much.

“I think we made some very terrible flavors very quickly, Marlin said with a laugh.

For example, the mango pineapple jalapeño cilantro soda was one that sounded better on paper than execution.

“It was not good at all,” Rambo said. “We were busy trying herbs and fruits. We’ve had some successes and failures with it. That one didn’t work out.”

3Sip got some good business advice from mentors Geoff and Jeri Carter, co-owners of Queen’s Reward Meadery, the state’s first and only meadery. Queen’s Reward also was the first to offer to sell 3Sip.

That relationship developed in 2017 when Rambo, Marlin and Gray pitched their idea to the Community Development Foundation’s version of “Shark Tank,” called “The Pitch.” 3Sip was one of 17 teams looking to get a jump start.

“We made it through the first cut, and the top four got assigned a mentor, which was Geoff,” Rambo said. “And it took off.” Read more: Daily Journal

Town Square Publications Chamber Membership Directories, Maps 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 Or you can call John Dussman aT 847-427-4633.