What is the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and Johnson Financial Group announced on Thursday that the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest will be back for a fourth straight year. The annual competition aims to highlight the state’s manufacturing industry – which employs nearly 1 in 5 Wisconsinites – and ultimately determine the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin. Any product that is manufactured in Wisconsin qualifies for the contest, and nominations will be accepted starting on Aug. 12 at www.madeinwis.com.
Chincoteague Island celebrates 94 years of pony love
Folks come home the last full week in July to rekindle, reconnect, and recharge with family and friends during this exciting week of Pony Love. Visitors from around the world will experience this decades old event this year as we celebrate Virginia Tourism Corporation’s 50 Year anniversary of the “Virginia is For Lovers” slogan.
Thousands line the shores of Veterans Memorial Park and Pony Swim Lane to watch the world-famous Chincoteague Ponies make their annual pilgrimage from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. Charter boats line the Assateague Channel creating a pathway for the ponies as they make their yearly swim from shore to shore. Watch the swim on the giant Jumbotron in Memorial Park sponsored by the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, Affordable Business Systems, Best Western Chincoteague, Chincoteague Island House of Jerky, Comfort Suites, Marina Bay Hotel & Suites, Refuge Inn, Sea Shell Motel, Seaside Vacations, The Bike Depot, Waterside Inn and the Town of Chincoteague.
The traditional Beach Walk on Assateague Island at 6 a.m. on Monday, July 22nd begins the week’s festivities. The north herd of wild Chincoteague Ponies will join the south herd to await the “big day”. The annual swim on Wednesday, July 24th is at the earliest morning slack tide—officials predict a window of time between 8:30-10:30 a.m. Visit www.chincoteaguechamber.com/pony-penning and the chamber Facebook page for updates, shuttle map and information including where to park if you are coming in for the day, helpful hints and full schedule of events. Shuttle buses will start running at 5 a.m. The auction of foals takes place on Thursday morning July 25th at 8 a.m. at the Carnival Grounds on Main Street.
“Proceeds from one of this year’s buy back foals will benefit the United Way of the Eastern Shore,” according to Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company PR Officer Denise Bowden.
The week’s events culminate with the return swim of the adult ponies to Assateague on Friday morning July 26th (time to be announced on Thursday). The Chincoteague Volunteer Fireman’s Carnival will be open July 3-6, 12-13, 19-20, 22-27 from 7-11 p.m. featuring rides, games, raffles, and fabulous Eastern Shore food.
Other events are being hosted through August 10 in recognition of the 50 Years of Love celebration. Check the chamber website for details: www.chincoteaguechamber.com/50-years-of-love.
#FamousChamber Of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!)
“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” ---
Frederick Keonig
The Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Local Business magazine is available at the Lake Zurich Area Chamber today! Thanks to the LZACC chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce Local Business
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.
Brent Cooper: Marketing our region as one — just the way we should we presenting ourselves
Lake Zurich Chamber of Commerce 2018 Local Business Magazine
The Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Local Business magazine is available at the Lake Zurich Area Chamber today! Thanks to the LZACC chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce Local Business
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.
Brent Cooper: Marketing our region as one — just the way we should we presenting ourselves
At a gathering of Kentucky business leaders last year, an economist pulled up a list of the largest cities in Kentucky. Louisville (600,000), Lexington (308,000), Bowling Green (61,000) and Owensboro (59,000) were in the top four. The city of Covington, Northern Kentucky’s largest city, came in at number five with 41,000.
That presentation prompted a series of serious conversations about how Northern Kentucky should present itself.
How should we better market ourselves to Frankfort, as well as anyone looking to do business or relocate here?
To anyone who has recently moved here or any visiting tourist, Northern Kentucky looks like one big place.
In my opinion, we are.
Here’s an interesting comparison. If you’ve ever been to the Hamburg Pavilion off Man O War Boulevard in Lexington and traveled to the Bluegrass Airport, you’d find it’s about 15 miles in distance. In that scenario, you travel through one city, one county, and one 911 system to get to your destination.Our Northern Kentucky counties are packed with cities and people in a way that is, well, unique to the rest of the state. In fact, if we were to combine just parts of Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, the result would be the 2nd largest county overnight, with more than 400,000 people.
Here in Northern Kentucky, if you were to travel from Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights to our airport (CVG), you would only travel 14 miles. But here, you cross through six cities, three counties, and three different 911 systems.
I’ve driven this route for years, and I honestly had to look it up on a map because I wasn’t sure how many cities you drive through.
There are 120 counties in Kentucky, and most of them have one main city or town. In our neck of the woods, we are 37 cities in the three northernmost counties alone and 20 of those cities are amongst the top 100 largest cities in Kentucky.
Looking at Northern Kentucky cities by population, the top five are Covington (41,000), Florence (32,000), Independence (28,000), Erlanger (19,000), and Fort Thomas (16,000). Newport (15,000) comes in at sixth largest.
By themselves, each Northern Kentucky city is 10 percent or less of our overall population. And while each one is critically important to the whole, none of them are an island standing alone. In my opinion, one of the greatest features of each of our cities is that they are in close proximity to the others.
Fort Thomas is minutes from Newport on the Levee and MainStrasse in Covington. Fort Wright is minutes from shopping in Florence and Crestview Hills. And all of them are minutes from CVG and all the amenities of Greater Cincinnati.
Fort Thomas is minutes from Newport on the Levee and MainStrasse in Covington. Fort Wright is minutes from shopping in Florence and Crestview Hills. And all of them are minutes from CVG and all the amenities of Greater Cincinnati.
We are a collection of small towns linked as one larger community. We are part of the Greater Cincinnati experience, that is a key component of who we are. Here, you get the best of both worlds. And part of our story is that, together, we are one of the three largest metro areas in the state of Kentucky.
Fifty years ago, our Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce was founded by a group of leaders who clearly recognized we are stronger together. While we have certainly accomplished a great deal in that 50 years, much remains to be done. As we consider the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead in a global economy, it is important to remember that what was true all those years ago is still true today.
We are better together, with a strong voice and purpose for the benefit of all.
I invite you to join us at the NKY Chamber as we continue to work toward that vision.
I invite you to join us at the NKY Chamber as we continue to work toward that vision.
Brent Cooper is president and CEO of the NKY Chamber of Commerce.
Schultz, a Zionsville native, grew up in Zionsville and moved to northwest Illinois, where she graduated from college, married and started a family.
“We [my husband and I] made the decision to move back to Zionsville in 2004 to be closer to family,” Schultz said. “We had three school-age children at that time, and our No. 1 priority was selecting an excellent school system within Boone County. Our county has three exceptional school districts, [and] strong school systems are an instrumental driver of growth and economic development and often the reason why families, such as mine, relocate or locate to Boone County.”
Having such a strong connection with her hometown and native county, Schultz was pleased to find that the county and its communities continued to offer a “small-town” atmosphere while offering modern amenities, such as parks and trail systems, community events throughout the year and the locally owned shopping and dining components, just as she recalled from her youth and has enjoyed with her family over the years.
Why Boone County Chamber of Commerce?
When asked why she decided to get involved with the local chambers, specifically accepting the role as executive director for the Boone County Chamber, Schultz replied, “Four years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in the Boone County Leadership [BCL] program hosted by the Community Foundation of Boone County. That provided invaluable insight on issues that are of great importance throughout all six Boone County communities, including education, health and safety, economic development and our legal system.”
Schultz continued, “Throughout my participation in the BCL program and volunteer experiences in my community, I was amazed to learn that Boone County is home to so many wonderful businesses providing a variety of products, services and workforce opportunities, as well as nonprofit organizations making a positive impact on the betterment of all six Boone County communities.”
Schultz had been working with the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce previously and had accumulated the knowledge, experience and contacts key to her present position.
“While I greatly enjoyed my role at the [Zionsville] chamber and working with the town of Zionsville officials, businesses and organizations, in my new role with Boone County Chamber, I was excited for the opportunity to work with all six communities, including Zionsville,” Schultz expressed. “Boone County Chamber is a county-wide chamber that had previously been most visible in the city of Lebanon. Last year, the chamber revealed a new logo and tagline to reflect its mission, ‘Connecting communities-advancing businesses.’”
Boone County Workforce and Its Challenges
Schultz explained that the Boone County Chamber board of directors and staff are dedicated to providing opportunities and resources to build business connections, to provide resources to assist businesses and to attract and retain workforce.
“The chamber builds partnerships with and provides resources to Boone County businesses and its members, such as Hendrickson [Trailer Commercial Vehicle Systems] and Piece by Piece,” Schultz said. “Hendrickson is working on partnering with local school systems to create a talented workforce pipeline and to better prepare our future workforce. Piece by Piece is an example of a startup business that continues to realize growth and prosperity, and many other longstanding businesses continue to grow, prosper and partner with local municipalities to build strong communities throughout the county.”
Schultz said attracting workforce and creating strong communities to sustain a talented workforce is a top priority for the chamber and Boone County businesses of all sizes.
“Boone County Chamber strives to connect residents and businesses with chamber members who can assist them with their professional as well as personal needs,” she stated. “People truly do want to do business with people they know and trust, as well as genuinely want to support local businesses, but they need to know what businesses are available to meet their needs. They can’t do this with businesses they are not aware of.”
She added, “It is imperative for Boone County residents and other businesses to support local businesses throughout all Boone County communities, including professional and personal services such as health care providers, accountants, financial planners, insurance agents, as well as shopping and dining.”
In addition to its dedication to increasing the visibility of its members, businesses and organizations through its expansive menu of programs and events, the Boone County Chamber is also dedicated to assisting Boone County businesses address the issues of workforce development and the current labor shortage that afflicts some of its members.
Boone County has a population of approximately 65,000 and has attracted a multitude of new businesses in 2018–2019 that have added or will add additional jobs to the county.
“Attracting and retaining talented workforce is one of the greatest needs of our members, if not the greatest need,” Schultz emphasized. “We receive requests from our members weekly regarding their need to secure workforce and to fulfill their employment needs. This is a complex challenge, and there is no one single solution. The chamber is dedicated to collaborating with local employers, educators, elected officials, State of Indiana representatives, as well as Indianapolis region organizations, to provide resources to our members. Our members can then utilize and take action to address the workforce challenges of today, but most importantly, to be proactive in creating a talented workforce pipeline for Boone county’s future.”
A member of the Boone County board of directors and plant manager at Hendrickson, Brent Haines, spoke about his experience with the chamber and why he has decided to further engage with other members and local businesses on the issues of workforce development. Haines has been with Hendrickson for 23 years. After graduating high school, Haines joined the U.S. Marine Corps and started with Hendrickson immediately after. Haines worked his way up the ranks at Hendrickson while earning his bachelor’s degree in business through Indiana Wesleyan University using a tuition assistance program offered through his employer.
“Hendrickson has grown expeditiously since I started,” Haines said. “There were about 50 people, and now we’re up to about 460 employees. It’s a really great company to work for. It’s a 105-year-old company with 27 plants worldwide. I got involved with the chamber looking for ways to work with other businesses throughout the community on workforce issues and on ways that we can all be successful in Boone County.”
Haines shared that Schultz has connected Haines with several contacts he wishes to collaborate with on resolving the labor shortage, education, quality of life and affordable housing issues that are impacting companies in all industries here in Boone County.
“I’ve been getting out and talking with people, building those relationships and networking,” Haines said. “Diane has really helped us accomplish that immediate goal within this last year.”
Haines is currently working to develop a “Workforce Development Task Committee” with other businesses and organizations who are passionate about this subject and are dedicated to cultivating, attracting and retaining a talented workforce. He emphasized that committee members are needed, and he is available to discuss the focus and goals of such a committee with individuals who are interested in learning more.
“Businesses are coming in at an alarming rate, and we’re wondering where they’re going to get all the people,” Haines said. “We need to be developing the workforce and taking care of the existing workforce, so they stay in these areas and they don’t leave to go to another county that has more amenities and affordable living options. For the long-term health of Boone County, we need to partner together and help the businesses be successful so that they stay. This affects each and every single Boone County resident because a successful business community increases a positive economic impact in all six of the local communities, and the residents benefit from that.”
For more information about the Boone County Chamber of Commerce, visit the website at boonechamber.org. From: Zionsville Monthly
The Muskego Area Chamber of Commerce 2018 Community Guide & Business Directory is available at the Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Barbara Wesener and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
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.
Will it play in Plainfield? Coldwell Banker’s rebranding experiment
Every Tuesday throughout the summer, Plainfield’s main drag turns into a family friendly spectacle of classic cars, music and food as the local chamber of commerce closes down the streets for Cruise Night. To Mike Prodehl, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker – The Real Estate Group, Tuesday, July 2, seemed like the perfect moment to unveil the newly rebranded Plainfield office. “It’s amazing how many people noticed it,” Prodehl said of the change to their 100-plus-year-old brick office building.
This microcosm of change on a classic main street office building is part of a much larger wave. Coldwell Banker has embarked on the implementation phase of its new identity, and Plainfield was one of a small handful of beta testers. But with top-level personnel changes and shakeups in Coldwell Banker’s Chicagoland offices over the past year, on top of stock market jitters experienced by the company’s parent brand, this moment could be seen as a precarious one for the 100-year-old brand.
The choice of this particular office in this particular town wasn’t random. David Marine, chief marketing officer for Coldwell Banker, told Chicago Agent magazine that company executives picked out offices that would represent a variety of conditions — urban vs. suburban, standalone offices vs. strip mall locations — to test out the new designs that are part of what they call Project North Star. “Plainfield, Illinois, has a very downtown, ‘Mainstreet, U.S.A’ type of feel,” he said. “We wanted to see how it works in a sort of walking community.”
First announced in March at the company’s annual Gen Blue conference, the new logo has stirred up a fair amount of chatter, both from supporters and detractors, in the intervening months. And though it is generally being referred to as a beta test, much of the new look is already set in stone. “The North Star mark is here to stay,” Marine said.
Any brand refresh will suffer pushback, and the fact that Coldwell Banker has been using the same general marking since the 1970s only makes the backlash — particularly from established agents — more inevitable. As someone who was part of focus groups on the new logo that started last summer, Prodehl said he has felt the need to be both a champion for change and a critic or devil’s advocate, reminding company brass and marketing executives to always keep in mind what the public and agents will make of the new look. He did note that he heard from some agents who panned the logo as looking too much like a flag or baseball team logo.
But the symbolism of the North Star as a steadfast guide won Prodehl over. He said clients have told him the role of real estate agents as pilots is the reason they hire them in the first place. “Us being the ones who guide them through the process is what is going to keep us relevant in the transaction,” he said.
The old logo, affectionately dubbed as having been written in ‘Star Wars font,’ is nonetheless well-known. Looking at the larger brand may reveal some higher-level impetus behind the shift. Coldwell Banker parent company Realogy Holdings Corp. has had a rough ride on the stock market lately, and while this may have to do more with fears of the disruption of established brands than it does branding, it certainly doesn’t bolster the arguments of those who want to stick with a look and feel developed decades ago. Also, another major player under the Realogy brand, Century 21, recently undertook a new branding that isn’t too far off from the new Coldwell Banker logo.
Marine denied that there’s an overall plan to bring the whole Realogy family under a similar look and said recent stock swings have nothing to do with the shift either. “There’s no interest or desire to bring the two brands together,” he said, adding that, as for similarities between the two new logos, “They both have a ‘C’ in them.”
Instead, Marine said that the shakeup came out of conversations that have been happening virtually since he started with the company some 17 years ago. “The reason for the rebrand stemmed from something I’ve heard off and on for as long as I’ve been here: ‘What are we going to do about this logo?’” he said, adding that there has been a feeling for quite some time that “our identity might be holding us back.” Read more: Boston Agent Magazine
Sauk Valley Area Chamber event: Register now for 2019 Fiesta Parade Scheduled for Saturday, September 14th
STERLING – The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Business Leaders Committee is organizing the 67th annual Fiesta Parade which will be held Saturday, September 14th. All groups are encouraged to incorporate Hispanic Culture into the parade entries.
The Parade will begin at 1:00pm in Rock Falls. Parade Entries will line up on 10th street. The parade will travel north on First Avenue in Rock Falls, cross the First Avenue bridge to Sterling. At the base of the bridge the parade will travel north on Locust Street to 4th and end at Grandon Civic Center in Sterling.
There will also be food vendors in downtown Sterling and Rock Falls before, during, and after the parade
For more information or questions please call the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce at 815-625-2400 or email us at chamber@essex1.com. Visit www.saukvalleyareachamber.com to register for the parade online. CONTACT 815-625-2400 knoble@saukvalleyareachamber.com
Community Breakfast kicks off Waterways Festival
A community breakfast and ribbon cutting officially kicked off the annual Michigan Waterways Festival Thursday morning, starting the four days of fun in downtown Cheboygan.
“Good morning everybody and welcome to the Michigan Waterways Festival, newly rebranded,” said Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce and Cheboygan Area Visitors Bureau Executive Director Scott Herceg. “I want to welcome everybody to the first event of a whole weekend full of a lot of fun here in Cheboygan.”
The breakfast was put on by the Cheboygan County Council on Aging, featuring eggs, sausage, hash browns, corned beef hash, biscuits and sausage gravy, french toast sticks, assorted pastries, cereals and drinks.
The Council on Aging also had a booth set up with information on the different services they provide at their centers on Sand Road and in Wolverine. Gail Tinker, the Cheboygan County Council on Aging Executive Director, was also selling raffle tickets for prizes — his and hers bicycles, lawn chairs and a kayak.
A table was also set up with schedules for all of the events taking place over the weekend with the Waterways Festival and tickets to purchase a print of the annual drawing representing the festival.
At the breakfast, a ribbon cutting was held, marking the official opening of the four day celebration. Many of those who helped cut the ribbon were Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. The Michigan Waterways Festival is a production of the Cheboygan Chamber of Commerce.
Tom McKinley, the chair of the Waterways Festival Committee, said it was good to see everyone who came out to the breakfast in Festival Square.
“Thanks for coming out,” said McKinley. “First Community Bank, we’re proud to be the main sponsor for this event. It’s going to be a great event this year.”
McKinley and Polly Schneider, Office Manager of the Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce were the ones who cut the ceremonial ribbon, officially opening the festival.
“We have a saying at the Chamber of Commerce that nothing is official until you cut the ribbon,” said Herceg. “So, to open the festival, when you’re ready guys. Thanks everybody, have a great Michigan Waterways Festival, we’ll see you around town. Thanks a lot.” Read more: Cheboygan News
D'Iberville/St. Martin Chamber of Commerce announces the hiring of new Executive Director
Pamela Stein LaFontaine has been named Executive Director of the D’Iberville St. Martin Chamber of Commerce effective October 2, 2018. LaFontaine, originally from D’Iberville has worked in photography and advertising sales at the local newspaper (The Biloxi D’Iberville Press) for over 30 years; has real estate and Insurance experience. She is the daughter of one the founders of the D’Iberville St. Martin Area Chamber of Commerce, Charles R. (Bob) and Shannon Fournier Stein. Bob Stein served the Chamber as the First President in 1974.
LaFontaine has served the chamber on the Board of Directors, prior to being named the Executive Director. She recently produced a promotional Welcome Center Booklet “Discover D’Iberville” promoting the City and Chamber, featuring many businesses.LaFontaine is married to Paul LaFontaine, Sr. of Pass Christian. They have three children; Amanda LaFontaine of Houston, Texas, Paul (Lauren Nelson) LaFontaine ll of Saucier, and Patrick (Kalie Williams) LaFontaine of Long Beach. They have 3 granddaughters, and a 4th grandchild on the way.
“I am so proud to accept this position, to take the helm of the chamber in the next chapter of D’Iberville and the St. Martin area’s booming growth” LaFontaine said. “I look forward to serving and promoting the businesses in our area. I want to personally work with all of our chamber members to promote all that we have to offer.”
“The D’Ibervile St. Martin Chamber has an awesome, strong, working Board of Directors and I am proud to be a part of this organization".
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