Famous Chamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy and Happy Thanksgiving!); Eau Claire workforce summit discusses how to bring more workers to Wisconsin; Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Wins IACCE 2019 Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award; Chincoteague Christmas Parade Set For December 7; A Better Place to Live: Hobdy committed to work together for future of community; Bay Area Chamber of Commerce earns top large chamber award for 2019; Merger creates countywide chamber of commerce; Shop Owensboro, powered by Independence Bank, is this Saturday!

Happy Thanksgiving, #ChamberWorld! It's going to be a GREAT day!

Famous Chamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy and Happy Thanksgiving!)

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never ever have enough. - Oprah Winfrey

Eau Claire workforce summit discusses how to bring more workers to Wisconsin

Business leaders in the Chippewa Valley say they could need to reach as far as Puerto Rico to find potential employees.

Attracting qualified employees and changing workforce conditions were discussed Wednesday at the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce’s second annual summit.

One hundred and forty businesses were represented at Wednesday’s workforce summit.

With unemployment remaining low in the Chippewa Valley, leaders said they need to get creative to find qualified workers.

“Now [we] have to look at different groups of people. That may be people that are incarcerated, it may be people with disabilities, they may have to go to different places to find folks. We talked about going to Puerto Rico to bring people back to the United States because that’s how far we have to go to find good workers,” said Jim Morgan, vice president of member experience at MRA – The Management Association.

Along with expanding their geographical reach to fill positions, business owners say they are putting a stronger emphasis on gaining the interest of students.

“We need to get more people into the workforce, and the sooner we do that and get them training technical skills, soft skills, the better the workforce will be in the future,” said Kaylynn Stahlbusch, workforce and program director for the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce.

To help further the initiative, the Eau Claire Area School District is making moves to get its students in the door, helping both employers and future graduates.

“Really what we’re looking for is more businesses that are willing to partner with us as a school district and provide more opportunities for our kids to take that first step into that career that they’re interested in,” said Drew Seveland, academic services coordinator with the school district.

Organizers hope collaboration and new ideas can help equip businesses for Wisconsin’s changing workforce environment.

“We’re at full employment and Wisconsin is not a state that is bringing in a lot of people, we’re not growing our own. So, we either have to go someplace else to find them, or we have to go to different groups of people to fill the openings that we have,” Morgan said.

The Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce has several resources online to help both employers and those looking for a job in the area. Read more: WQOW.com

Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Wins IACCE 2019 Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award

Presented at the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE)

Annual Celebration & Awards Dinner Thursday, November 7, 2019,

this award honors an outstanding Illinois Chamber of Commerce and its leadership team.

"Under the leadership of Executive Director Kris Noble, the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce has thrived, showing that commitment to membership and strong leadership can grow an organization and positively impact its community,” said Jon Ridler, ACE, 2019 IACCE Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce. “Through a collaborative approach, the organization has implemented notable programs, including promoting shopping local and using local resources, and continuing to promote the importance of agriculture in their community. They have successfully established partnerships, especially their education-workforce collaboration, and continue to develop and model best practices in the chamber industry as evidenced by their continued U.S. Chamber accreditation status that can be replicated around the state.”

The IACCE Outstanding Chamber of the Year Award recognizes organization excellence in chambers of commerce and provides a unique benchmarking opportunity to assess a chamber’s strengths. The award is based on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s accreditation process for local chambers and highlights accomplishments in the areas of leadership, governance, finance, advocacy and membership development.

Founded in 1912, the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is Northwest Illinois’ only Chamber receiving the distinct Certificate of Accreditation bestowed by the US Chamber of Commerce. The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce has a long tradition of working for our members and listening to our members’ needs. Our future continues on this path of excellence by creating a regional business organization, which works closely with our local development offices for the benefit of the Sauk Valley Region and our entire business community. 

For over 100 years the SVACC has been dedicated to serving the communities that comprise the Sauk Valley area. We work to promote business and community prosperity through advocacy, networking and communication on behalf of and to our members, developing business and education partnerships, and promoting economic development.

Members represent nearly more than 12,000 employees in 23 cities in 12 Illinois counties and in Clinton and Davenport, IA.

Chamber members represent area agricultural interests, financial institutions, food service, health care, manufacturing, non-profit, restaurants, retailers, schools and more!  

The majority of the Sauk Valley Area’s largest employers are involved in the Chamber.

Organization hosts nearly 20 or more networking opportunities with other business professionals throughout the year.

The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce received a 4-star accreditation rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.


Chincoteague Christmas Parade Set For December 7
The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce invites you to participate in the Chincoteague Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade on December 7, 2019 (please note: inclement weather date is Friday, December 13th). The parade features fire trucks and rescue units from as far away as Delaware and Maryland, beautiful equestrian groups, decorated boats, shiny classic cars, marching units of all ages, and floats of all descriptions. The theme is “Peace, Love & Christmas…… circa 1969”, as a salute to Virginia Tourism Corporation’s “Virginia is for Lovers” 50-year-old slogan.

The day is filled with fun for the entire family. American Legion Post #159 will host their annual Christmas Party for children ages 1-8 from Noon to 2 p.m. Chincoteague Cultural Alliance offers Meet the Artist in the Kitchen Gallery from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and free Kids Art Classes at 1 p.m. Historic Main Street Merchants sponsor “Homes for the Holidays” Home Tour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy dinner in one of our many restaurants, listen to festive sounds in Robert Reed Park at 6 p.m. and then watch the parade step off at 7 p.m. Bring a toy to put in the Chincoteague Police Department car to help needy children this Christmas. Parade route begins at the intersection of Main Street and Maddox Boulevard and ends at American Legion Post #159 located at 4023 Main Street with treats sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Chincoteague and a visit with Santa. Awards are given for best floats, boats, fire companies, equestrian units, marching groups and miscellaneous entries. Decorate your entry using the theme for a chance to win Best in Show!

Make the Chincoteague Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade a part of your holiday tradition. Spend the day in beautiful Chincoteague Island or book a room and stay the weekend! Plan to watch or fill out your entry form today to be a participant. Forms can be found online at www.chincoteaguechamber.com along with a full schedule of events. Deadline to enter is November 22, 2019.

Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce Community Profile & Membership Directory  

The Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce Community Profile & Membership Directory is available at the Front Royal Warren County Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Niki Foster and Pam Riffle and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! 

2019 Front Royal Warren County Community Profile and Membership 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.

A Better Place to Live: Hobdy committed to work together for future of community

Chamber of Commerce President Debbie Hudson said when she announced the 2019 Male Natchezian of the Year award recipient Tuesday evening, the news was not a surprise to anyone who knows Tate Hobdy.

“Those of us who know and love Tate already realize that he spends a huge amount of his time giving back to individuals, both young and old, groups and worthy causes,” Hudson said during the 2019 Annual Natchez Adams County Chamber Gala held Tuesday. “When Tate takes on a mission, you can depend on him to be loyal, to contribute positively and to follow up on his responsibilities all while supporting the other members of the group to do the same.”

Hobdy said he also suspected something was up at the chamber gala Tuesday evening when he noticed that his family and entire work staff attended. However, the only person who was surprised about the award recipient was Hobdy himself.

“I was surprised,” Hobdy said. “I thought maybe something was up … but I never expected it to be the Natchezian of the Year Award. I’m very grateful to the chamber, my family and everyone I work with for making this very special experience for me.”

Hobdy said he was raised in Natchez and graduated from Cathedral High School in 2000. He now works as the Vice President of Stephens & Hobdy Insurance, and he purchased the Dairy Queen on John R. Junkin Drive in May.

Additionally, Hobdy has served in many different volunteer positions throughout his career, Hudson said.

Hobdy was the volunteer chairman of the Natchez Adams County Recreation Committee for nine years and played an instrumental role in encouraging state legislators to donate the bean field land that now holds the aquatics center to the City of Natchez, Hudson said.

Hobdy said the opportunity to purchase Dairy Queen presented itself in May, so he stepped down from the recreation board to dedicate his time to both businesses and continue serving in other volunteer positions.

Hobdy served as a board member of the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, the First Miss-Lou Work Ready Community, the YMCA of Jackson and as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and Project Clean Up Natchez. Hobdy is also the upcoming President of the Natchez Rotary Club, Hudson said.

Hobdy also served as a board member and chairman of Natchez Adams County Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of Leadership Natchez, a member of Young Professionals, founder of the Natchez Leadership Kickball initiative, soccer coach for Cathedral School, and has served as a past chairman of the Cathedral Fall Festival Tennis Tournament, Hudson said. Read more: The Natchez Democrat

Bay Area Chamber of Commerce earns top large chamber award for 2019


According to the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, the group received the award for the large chamber category based on its work with young professionals, effective communication and advocacy methods, and collaborative projects.

“We look forward to continuing to offer innovative programming to our members and striving to make the Bay Area a destination to live, work and play,” said Tarrant.

Projects that the chamber is involved with include the Pitch A Dream entrepreneurial competition and the Route Bay City online publication. The Chamber also has been partnering with local educational and work force agencies.

The chamber hosts regular events throughout the year for entrepreneurs and local businesses such as the Business After Hours showcase event each month and early morning Eye Opener Breakfast networking events.

The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, nonprofit business-oriented organization that was founded in 1882 and has nearly 800 members throughout the community. The Chamber has a focus on joining area businesses and the community together for economic growth while promoting the well-being of the entire Bay Area region. Read more: M LIVE


Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Community Guide & Directory

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Community Guide & Directory is available at the Pekin Area Chamber today! Thanks to Bill Fleming, Renna Hadsall, Manda Brown and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!

Pekin Illinois Community Guide and 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.


Merger creates countywide chamber of commerce

The Ferdinand and Huntingburg chambers of commerce will merge to become the Dubois County Chamber of Commerce in January.

But this will be more than a merger. It will be an expansion to represent all parts of the county.

“What we realized as we started the process, was that it was also an expansion into other communities that were not being represented by any chamber,” said Huntingburg Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sara Schroeder. “We’re taking what Ferdinand and Huntingburg have been doing and really looking to move into the other communities.”

This expansion is a result of ongoing work between the two chambers and a transition committee. The name was selected based on feedback from chamber members and the community.

The new chamber will move away from working at a community level and begin working more at a county, state and regional level.

“Both chambers have been working at the community level. We realized we wanted to move up to work more at the county level,” Schroeder said. “We really are interetested in doing a lot more with the state and looking at being involved in the legislative processes, the Indiana state chamber, the southwestern regional area. We want to work more at that higher level.”

The transistion committee has developed a vision and mission for the Dubois County Chamber of Commerce. The vision is “To support our business community with a unified voice.” The chamber’s mission reads: “The Dubois County Chamber of Commerce serves businesses of all sizes by providing leadership, legislative advocacy, and member-to-member collaborative opportunities by working at a county, regional, and state level to foster growth and profitability for our members.”

“By doing that, we really aren’t in competition with any other chamber in the county,” Schroeder said. “We have our own thing going. And it will be collaborative with any other organization here.”

The Jasper Chamber of Commerce welcomes the new chamber and is looking forward to future collaborations, Executive Director Nancy Eckerle said this morning.

“We work with all organizations,” she said. “And we definitely want to be a working partner with that organization.”

The Dubois County Chamber of Commerce will have a new board and a new executive director. The transition committee is seeking members for the board. There will be an application process and those interested should contact Schroeder at huntingburgchamber@gmail.com.

The search for a new director will begin in December. Schroeder will see the transition through and until the new director is in place. She will then depart from the chamber to pursue other endeavors.

“I have some other passions, and I have four kids,” she said. “I want to do more in the community at a volunteer level.”

As the transition is happening, all correspondence will go to the Huntingburg Chamber’s current office.

“There is a lot we left vague, so that the new board of directors and new executive director can make those decisions,” Schroeder said. “Once the new board and new director are in place, I foresee that they may look at a different location.

“They need to take ownership in this process. So we want them to be able to make those decisions.”

Along with the vision and mission, the transition committee has developed three yeas of goals for the new chamber. After that, the new board will develop the chamber’s strategic plan.

“The transition committee views itself as the architect of the house,” Schroeder said. “We started the foundation. We have the blueprints. But this new board and this new director are going to have to build the house. The role of the new board and new director is to build the chamber from [the] foundation that we started, using the blueprints that we have.” Read more:Dubois County Herald

Shop Owensboro, powered by Independence Bank, is this Saturday!

The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce is proud to present Shop Owensboro 2019, powered by Independence Bank, on Saturday, November 30!
Shop Owensboro was created to elevate the well-known Small Business Saturday concept, with a focus on shopping local with Chamber Members!
Join us for the Shop Owensboro kickoff on Saturday, November 30 at the Independence Square (2425 Frederica Street) and Highway 54 Independence Bank locations to pick up your FREE official Shop Owensboro bag. Doors will open at 9:00 a.m. and shoppers are encouraged to arrive early! In previous years the 500 shopping bags have been given out in less than 15 minutes!
Shopping Bags will include coupons and discounts to participating stores along with hidden gift certificates for some lucky shoppers! The bags will also include maps with participating stores, including hours of operation and contact information, and Shop Owensboro BINGO cards.
To play Shop Owensboro BINGO, collect stamps from stores you purchase items from on your Shop Owensboro BINGO card! BINGO or not, we want to see all the places shoppers stopped on Small Business Saturday, so make sure to ask for those stamps at every register! BINGO cards should be returned to the Chamber office (200 East 3rd Street) through next week, December 2-6, for a chance to win prizes and gifts from participating stores!
Keep your money where your heart is... Shop Owensboro on November 30!

Contact: Candance Castlen Brake, President and CEO | 270-926-1860 -OR-
Hannah Thurman, Events and Communications Coordinator | 270-926-1860

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.

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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