'We are here and we want to stay': Continental plant manager speaks to Clinton area leaders
A top official for Continental Tire's recently-opened plant in Clinton said the company is looking to do business with Mississippi companies and vowed the plant would stay in Mississippi for years — even generations to come.
Tobias Hacker, plant operations manager for the Clinton plant, told a room full of business leaders and state and local officials, Continental wants "to be connected" to the region and state, noting the plant has already worked with more than 100 Mississippi vendors.
"We want to be connected with you. We want to be connected with Mississippi. We are here and we want to stay here," Hacker said.
Hacker, who was a guest speaker at the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership's Vision 2020 event at the Jackson Convention Center on Wednesday, discussed the progress the plant has made since it officially opened in October.
He said the plant is still in "Stage One" of a process that is expected to culminate by 2028. The Continental plant, only the third to open in the United States, has begun production on truck tires, but has plans to create passenger tires in the coming years, Hacker said.
The operations manager also noted the plant is still hiring and will continue to do so every year at least through 2028.
Hacker said about 250 employees have been hired at the plant and another 250 are expected to be hired by the end of 2020. Ultimately, the plant plans to have 2,500 employees by the time it's fully operational in 2028.
Currently, there are 25 jobs available at the plant, according to the company's job openings page. The company also lists jobs on its Facebook page. Some of the positions include engineers, supervisors, technicians and interns.
Relationships with local vendors
Hacker said it makes business sense for the international company to forge a relationship with local vendors. He noted that more than 100 vendors from the area have already worked on the plant since the start of development.
He said there's a need for even more local relationships.
"If that machine that never breaks, breaks, we want to call you," he said to the crowd of mostly business representatives.
"I don't want to fly in someone from Germany or Japan. I want to call you if I need somebody who knows hydraulics," he said.
Hacker also predicted the more than 900-acre plant will remain in Clinton for a long time. He compared the recently-opened plant to one opened in a small town in Germany more than 100 years ago, where five generations of Germans have worked, many of them family relatives.
"This is what we are and this is what we want. We want to see generations of people work here," the German native said. Read more: Clarion Ledger
William & Mary president wants to grow partnerships to retain talent, solve regional problems
The College of William & Mary is exploring how it might align efforts with partners to share knowledge and resources in critical areas that will affect the regional economy, President Katherine Rowe told attendees of the Peninsula Executive Leadership Forum.
“I hope you’re hearing we’re moving forward at William & Mary with an entrepreneurial mindset,” Rowe said at the Jan. 28 event organized by the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
The 28th president started on the job in July 2018. The university will celebrate 327 years during a ceremony Feb. 7.
In the next 10 to 20 years, Rowe said the overarching challenge in every industry and sector is the need for an adaptable workforce and talent that’s going to keep the region on pace with and leading technological change and other coming challenges.
Employers are seeking workers that are not only tech savvy but can solve complex problems and communicate well, she said. Change will require partnering to retrain employees or rapidly grow skills for working adults.
“Adaptability and range are going to be the distinguishing factors of talent in the decades ahead,” Rowe said. Read more: Pilot-Online
Niles Chamber of Commerce of Commerce & Industry 2020 Community Guide & Membership Directory
The Niles Chamber of Commerce & Industry 2020 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Niles Chamber of Commerce & Industry today! Thanks to Alicia Bermes and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
Town Square Publications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
GLI: Kicking Off The Year of Leadership, Honoring Community Leaders, GLI Welcomes New President & CEO, Executive Committee & Board Members
Tonight, Greater Louisville Inc., the Metro Chamber of Commerce, held its annual business meeting, presented by Baird. The voting Board confirmed the Executive Committee’s Dec. 16, 2019 nomination of GLI Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, to succeed Kent Oyler as GLI’s president and CEO. Davasher-Wisdom is the first female CEO or president in the organization’s 157-year history.
Davasher-Wisdom joined GLI in 2014, progressively increasing her levels of responsibility. Prior to joining GLI, Davasher-Wisdom was manager of government relations at the Tennessee Valley Authority, strategic communications officer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and community development coordinator with the office of Congressman Ron Lewis. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government and a Master of Public Administration from Western Kentucky University. She graduated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management earlier this month.
Kent Oyler joined GLI in 2014 during a challenging period and led the chamber back to a strong position in all aspects of its operations, capped by being recognized as the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ 2019 Large Chamber of The Year — the national championship in the chamber industry.
In other business, GLI welcomed 12 new volunteer business and community leaders to serve on its Board of Directors and elected its 2020 Executive Committee.
Lonnie Bellar, Chief Operating Officer of LG&E & KU Energy LLC, was elected Chairman of Greater Louisville, Inc. He succeeds Mike Ash, Regional President-Kentucky, Fifth Third Bank. Ash will continue to serve on GLI’s Executive Committee as Immediate Past Chair. Jennifer Willis, North/Southeast Regional Vice President, Humana, was chosen to serve as Chair-Elect. “GLI is fortunate to have such a deep, accomplished board from which to draw its leadership,” Ash said. “Every individual who serves on this board has a singular goal in mind – to make our community and our region even greater.”
The 2020 GLI Executive Committee members are:
- Lonnie Bellar (Chair), COO, LG&E & KU Energy LLC
- Mike Ash (Immediate Past Chair), Regional President-Kentucky, Fifth Third Bank
- Jennifer Willis (Incoming Chair & Planning Committee Chair), North/Southeast Regional Vice President, Humana
- Brian A. Cromer (Secretary), Chair, Business and Finance Service Group, Stites & Harbison, PLLC
- Jim Allen (Treasurer), Vice Chairman of R.W. Baird & Co.
- Russ Cox, President & CEO, Norton Healthcare
- Condrad Daniels, President, HJI Supply Chain Solutions
- Steve Gault, Founder & President, Stephen C. Gault Co.
- Tierra Kavanaugh Wayne, CEO, TKT & Associates
- Charlie Scholtz, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Brown-Forman Corp.
- Purna Veer, Founder & President, V-Soft Consulting, Inc.
#BestChamber practices: Grand Rapids Chamber: Candidate School 101
Ever considered running for local or state office? Looking to
get started, or simply learn more? Join the Grand Rapids Chamber for Candidate School! In this session, attendees will
learn the basics of how to run for office. We'll go over the good, the bad and
the ugly of running a political campaign.
Attendees will also hear from a panel featuring Representative Mark Huizenga, Commissioner Milinda Ysasi, and Commissioner Stephen Wooden. |
Monday, February 3 | 3:15 - 4:30 p.m.
Grand Rapids Chamber
#FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!)
Favorite Quote from the Greater Englewood Chamber: "Sometimes you just have to jump out the window and grow wings on the way down." Ray Bradbury
New mayor outlines Valparaiso’s accomplishments, challenges in address
In his first State of the City address, Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy gave an overview of the accomplishments of city departments last year, their goals for this year, and noted staff changes as some department heads move on.
Murphy gave his speech Tuesday during the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting, held at the Valparaiso University Harre Union before a ballroom-filled crowd of community leaders and other officials.
“I’ve been mayor of our favorite city for all of 27 days,” Murphy said, adding last year, outgoing Mayor Jon Costas crafted his address as an open letter to the city’s new mayor, and Murphy’s speech would be a response to that. “I’m grateful to be the one receiving your congratulations.”
Costas’ first piece of advice, Murphy said, was excellent, and that was to listen to the more than 33,000 people the city serves.
“I am committed to serving all of you, those who supported us and those who did not; those who like roundabouts and those who do not,” said Murphy, a Republican elected as mayor after serving a term on the City Council.
Leadership, Murphy said, is a team sport, before outlining some of who he called new players to the city leadership team. Those included Mike Jessen, the new city administrator, taking over for Bill Oeding, who is retiring; Mike Jabo, the incoming city engineer, who is replacing Adam McAlpine, who recently took a job with Porter County; and new redevelopment director Brandon Dickinson, stepping in for Stu Summers, who is retiring. Read more: Chicago Tribune
5 Star Chamber: Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 Community Guide & Membership Directory
The Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 Community Guide & Membership Directory is available at the Rapid City Chamber today! Thanks to Linda Rabe, Lynn Kendall, Shiloh Francis and the chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
Town Square Publications (www.townsquarepublications.com) can help you accomplish your chamber's gloss map, directory, community profile or publication needs at no expense to the chamber. Please email John Dussman at jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633.
Joliet Chamber 2020 Expo & Career Fair February 22nd
The Chamber Consumer/Spring Expo is the largest of its kind in the Joliet Area. This event is a low cost opportunity and tremendous way to get your business or organization name out in the community.
The Spring/Consumer Career Fair occurs in conjunction with the annual Spring/Consumer Expo in February at the Louis Joliet Mall.
Why should companies and organizations participate in this Career Fair?
- Louis Joliet Mall is easily accessible by public transportation
- Special hours to allow potential employees to attend outside of traditional work hours
- Designated wing for Career Fair exhibitors
- Low cost opportunity to recruit new employees
- New format including Kids Entertainment and Mini Sessions
Time: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM CST
Website: www.jolietchamber.com
Location:
Louis Joliet Mall
3340 Mall Loop Drive
Joliet, IL
Contact: Joliet Chamber
Email: info@jolietchamber.com
Date/Time Details:
Expo: Saturday 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Career Fair: Saturday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Fees
Expo Registration After
$395.00 - Chamber Members
$345.00 - Charitable, 501C3 Required
$695.00 - Non Chamber Members
Career Fair Registration
345.00 - Chamber Members
$295.00 - Charitable, 501C3 Required
$645.00 - Non Chamber Members
Click Here for More Information
Add to Calendar
Register Online
#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations: (three events in one day):
Chamber event: Jefferson mayor gives "State of the City" address
The state of the city is strong, with numerous upgrades completed during the past year and more projects under way in the next 12 months, said Jefferson Mayor Dale Oppermann.
Oppermann gave the traditional "State of the City" speech at the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet Thursday evening.
The event, at which both the city and the chamber presented numerous awards, took place at the 13 East banquet hall alongside the Jefferson golf course.
Oppermann began his address looking back at the accomplishments of the city in 2019. He said the first of the major projects undertaken by the city in 2019 was the renovation of the Jefferson Police Department and Jefferson Utilities building.
A priority due to water leakage in the original building, the project also allowed the city to make upgrades to improve the efficiency and security of the shared police department/utilities building.
Under the direction of construction manager Maas Brothers Construction of Watertown, the project was completed on time and under budget, Oppermann said. Read more: Daily Union
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