Showing posts with label Creston Chamber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Creston Chamber. Show all posts

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Chamber Executive Iowa Digest - October 2014 - Chamber news: 5 Iowa cities on Top 100 Best Places to Live list; Chamber speaker: Siouxland Chamber dinner sells out at 1800; National honor for north Iowa business leader Robin Anderson; Chamber conference: Community and Retail Academy to be held in Le Mars; Osage Chamber partnership: Mitchell County farms share healthy harvest bounty; Chamber engagement: Cy statues celebrate Ames, Iowa; Hot (air) topic: September Creston, IA Chamber of Commerce happenings; Chamber good news: Cost of living in Mason City, Iowa; Chamber Event: U of O Mutt Strutt approaches

Chamber news:  5 Iowa cities on Top 100 Best Places to Live list
Five Iowa cities have been named to this year's Top 100 Best Places to Live by Livability.com. This year Iowa City ranked 10th, Ames was 30th, West Des Moines was 57 on the list with Cedar Rapids at 65 and Des Moines at 82.The listing for Des Moines says , "One of the wealthiest cities in America is Des Moines, the capital of Iowa and a major headquarters for finance, insurance and publishing. The health industry is well-represented by four major hospitals and a cancer center, while the community’s quality of life is enhanced by 76 parks, three golf courses and three family aquatic centers."
"It's great to see Ames on this list for the second year in a row," said Dan Culhane in a news release. He is Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development President and CEO. Read more: KCCI 8 NEWS

Chamber speaker: Siouxland Chamber dinner sells out at 1800

The Siouxland Chamber of Commerce said Monday its dinner featuring former U.S. Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell has sold out. About 1,800 tickets have been sold for the Sept. 29 annual dinner at the Sioux City Convention Center since they went on sale July 31, said Renee Beaulieu, the chair of the Chamber Board of Directors....Sioux City Journal

National honor for north Iowa business leader Robin Anderson

The President and CEO of the Mason City Chamber of Commerce has been appointed to a national committee. Robin Anderson is one of ten new executives named to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100.  The group advises the U.S. Chamber’s board of directors, recommends programming and strengthens outreach to the business and chamber communities. Get more: KIMT.com

Chamber conference: Community and Retail Academy to be held in Le Mars

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Plymouth County and the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the Community and Retail Academy conference coming to Le Mars Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Business, industry, and community leaders are invited to learn about ways to create and market business branding, social media marketing, creating livable communities, and learning the customer trends for Northwest Iowa and Plymouth County. Read more: Akron Hometowner

Osage Chamber partnership: Mitchell County farms share healthy harvest bounty

Mitchell County residents took advantage of good weather Sept. 6 to visit farms and businesses that feed them. From pumpkins to meat to wine, mums and melons, farms in Orchard, Osage and St. Ansgar offered tours as part of Fresh on the Farm.
The afternoon was sponsored by Healthy Harvest of North Iowa in partnership with local farmers, Mitchell County Extension, the Osage Chamber of Commerce and NCR-SARE. Read more: Agri-News.com

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - by Sheryl Sandberg, CEO Facebook
Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. This means that women’s voices are still not heard equally in the decisions that most affect our lives. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential.
Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto.
In Lean In, Sandberg digs deeper into these issues, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to cut through the layers of ambiguity and bias surrounding the lives and choices of working women. She recounts her own decisions, mistakes, and daily struggles to make the right choices for herself, her career, and her family. She provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, urging women to set boundaries and to abandon the myth of “having it all.”  She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women in the workplace and at home.
Written with both humor and wisdom, Sandberg’s book is an inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth. Lean In is destined to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can.

Chamber engagement: Cy statues celebrate Ames, Iowa

Starting Aug. 31, Ames residents might have been wondering from where the 30 6-foot tall Cy statues all around the city came.
The statues came about through an initiative called CyclONE City. CyClone City was created by Leadership Ames 27 class, which was developed to make informed, involved and concerned community leaders in the Ames area, according to the Ames Chamber of Commerce website. Read more: Iowa State Daily

Hot (air) topic: September Creston, IA Chamber of Commerce happenings

September finds the chamber of commerce busier than ever. This is due in large part to the help and assistance the Chamber gives to the Creston/Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Committee for the upcoming 37th annual Hot Air Balloon Days Weekend to be held Sept. 19–21.
Weather permitting, Balloon Days kicks off with a fun flight of many of the balloonists on Friday evening sometime after 5:30 p.m. The balloon races will be held on Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st. Depending on the wind direction, many of you can step outside your door and enjoy the spectacular view of balloons soaring across Creston on these days or head up to the airport to watch them take off. Creston News-Advertiser

Chamber good news: Cost of living in Mason City, Iowa

The Mason City Chamber of Commerce released their most recent cost of living report. They’re finding it does not cost a high dollar to live in the area.  Just a few areas they looked at include housing, utilities, groceries, and transportation. They compared costs in these areas to cities like Mankato, St. Cloud, and Sioux Falls.
With 100 being high, Mason City has a score of 91.4, Mankato 95.6, St. Cloud 94.8, and Sioux Falls 99.1. Mason City ranked especially well where groceries, housing, transportation and health care costs are concerned. The President of the Mason City Chamber of Commerce says why it’s important to have this data. Read more: KIMT.com

Chamber Event: U of O Mutt Strutt approaches
The Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to hit the trails with your four-legged family members for the 3rd annual University of Okoboji Mutt Strutt Saturday, Oct. 4.  It's a fun and fur-filled one-mile walk begins at the Pearson Lakes Art Center at 8:30 a.m.
People and their pooches will strut their stuff over to the Dickinson County Nature Center and then back to the Art Center for a pet/owner look alike contest, best pet trick showdown and cutest mutt show! Read more: Dickinson County News

Chamber business: Goldman Sachs is looking to help 10,000 small businesses with a $500 MILLION investment
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is a $500 million investment to help small businesses create jobs and economic opportunity by providing them with greater access to business education, financial capital, and business support services. 10,000 Small Businesses is designed for business owners with limited resources who have a business poised for growth. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to growing their business and creating jobs within their community. Learn more about this program and eligibility requirements. Further information: 10,000 Small Businesses 
Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation (Education)

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”--- Albert Einstein

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John


John Dussman
Midwest Manager
800-600-0134 x239
Cell: (312)-320-8852
33 N. Geneva St.; Elgin, IL 60120


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Friday, September 5, 2014

Missouri Chamber President Dan Mehan receives Champion of Small Business Award from the National Coalition for Capital; Chamber business: South Dakota sets aside $1M to recruit workers; Tweet of the Day: Indiana Chamber; Michigan economic development group used 'secret shopper' and fake company to evaluate Michigan cities; Kentucky Women's Business Summit - Renew & Take Control; Chamber Directory or Map; Phillips County Arkansas Chamber leader discusses programs; Chamber business: Sept. 17 business counseling set for Wisconsin Rapids; 4 Chicago-area university entrepreneurship centers to know this fall; Hot (air) topic: September Creston, IA Chamber of Commerce happenings; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

Missouri Chamber President Dan Mehan receives Champion of Small Business Award from the National Coalition for Capital

Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan was honored this week with a Champion of Small Business award from the National Coalition for Capital. Dan and 34 fellow legislators and officials from across the nation were recognized for their leadership at the annual National Coalition for Capital Awards Ceremony on August 19th in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Champion of Small Business Awards recognize individuals for demonstrating leadership in supporting policies and initiatives designed to promote access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those in economically distressed communities.

Chamber President Dan Mehan

“This award recognizes Dan’s important work to preserve and create jobs through access to capital policy that helps Missouri small businesses grow and develop,” said Greg McIlvaine, President of the National Coalition for Capital. “Dan has demonstrated he is a champion of small business, and his efforts will have an enduring positive impact on Missouri.” Read more: Missouri Chamber

Chamber business: South Dakota sets aside $1M to recruit workers

South Dakota will spend $1 million to help local communities recruit workers, Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced this week.
The matching grant program was the centerpiece recommendation to come out of workforce summits Daugaard hosted this year in several of the state’s largest cities.
The state also will revamp the Department of Labor’s online job board in an attempt to make it more usable and provide more real-time data to employers. Read more: Argus Leader

Tweet of the Day: Indiana Chamber

Our Vince Griffin: Site selector Larry Gigerich says for next 100 years, water will be #1 factor in site selection.

Michigan economic development group used 'secret shopper' and fake company to evaluate Michigan cities

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation used a professional site selector and a fake business for a "secret shopper" survey of Michigan cities this summer.

"In an effort to continuously improve service to our business clients, we engaged in a secret siting activity to objectively look at how well we navigate and respond to inquiries from clients looking to locate in Michigan," MEDC CEO Michael Finney said in a written statement Thursday, Aug. 28. Read more: M Live

Kentucky Women's Business Summit - Renew & Take Control

The Women’s Business Center of Kentucky is hosting its Inaugural Women’s Small Business Summit: “Renew and Take Control” of your small business on September 26, 2014 in Erlanger, KY. Breakfast featuring keynote speaker Donna Salyers, owner of Fabulous Furs, Covington, KY; luncheon featuring keynote speaker Crystal Kendricks, owner of The Voice of Your Customer, Cincinnati, OH. Plus breakout sessions:  
(1)   Certification Workshops: Get Certified as a Women Owned Small Business. Certification panel – Federal, State and the Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council  
(2)    Show Me the Money: Financing for your Small Business – Panel Discussion with local lenders
(3)    Keeping up with Social Media – Rebecca Volpe, Director of the Northern KY University Small Business Development Center (NKU SBDC)
(4)    Leadership Doesn’t Require a Title – Debbie Simpson, President of Multi- Craft, Newport, KY
Take your business to the next level. Register today. Sponsorships available.

Chamber Directory or Map

Get a free estimate for a chamber map, community profile or membership directory. Call John Dussman at (800)-600-0134 x239 or email jdussman.vp@villageprofilemail.com. If your chamber has 500 members or more, please ask about our no-cost option.

Phillips County Arkansas Chamber leader discusses programs

Phillips County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Doug Friedlander recently discussed two major programs in which the local Chamber is deeply involved at the local Rotary Club meeting. They are the Phillips County Leadership Development Course and the Arkansas Scholars program. Read more: Helena-Arkansas

Chamber business: Sept. 17 business counseling set for Wisconsin Rapids


A counselor from the Small Business Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will be in Wisconsin Rapids from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, 1120 Lincoln St. Read more: WisconsinRapidsTribune.com

4 Chicago-area university entrepreneurship centers to know this fall

With over 30 area colleges and universities, there are a lot of opportunities for young entrepreneurs to learn about tech, business and innovation in Chicago. Now that school is in session, here’s a refresher about what opportunities some of these schools offer, upcoming events to watch for, and how students and community members can get involved. Read more: builtinchicago.com

Hot (air) topic: September Creston, IA Chamber of Commerce happenings

September finds the chamber of commerce busier than ever. This is due in large part to the help and assistance the Chamber gives to the Creston/Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Committee for the upcoming 37th annual Hot Air Balloon Days Weekend to be held Sept. 19–21.
Weather permitting, Balloon Days kicks off with a fun flight of many of the balloonists on Friday evening sometime after 5:30 p.m. The balloon races will be held on Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st. Depending on the wind direction, many of you can step outside your door and enjoy the spectacular view of balloons soaring across Creston on these days or head up to the airport to watch them take off. Creston News-Advertiser

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Attitude)

"Today, I choose to be happy." - Author unknown

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Chamber news: Indiana Remains Fiscal Envy Of Nation; Missouri Chamber ratings are out for state Legislators; Cities Align for Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce; Chamber Issue: Manufacturers' study: New EPA rules could cost Arkansas 10,000 jobs; Chamber Event: Iowa Lt. Gov. Reynolds recognizes Creston as certified Connected Community; Edmond businesses join chamber's locally owned program; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations (Ongoing Education)

Chamber news: Indiana Remains Fiscal Envy Of Nation

 - Straight From The Senate
Indiana recently closed out another fiscal year of balanced budgets and significant reserves. As the national deficit continues to climb and other states operate in the red year after year, this is a welcome reminder of why it's great to be a Hoosier.
In Indiana, we maintain a commitment to fiscal responsibility by keeping taxes low and government efficient – concepts which seem to evade many states as well as Washington, D.C. We believe government should balance its checkbook just as millions of Hoosier workers and families do.
While the federal debt balloons toward $18 trillion, Indiana has decreased its debt by 50 percent in recent years. In addition to paying off our debts, we've been able to trim the fat on government bureaucracy and target taxpayer dollars to areas where they are needed most. Read more: TheWaynedaleNews.com

Missouri Chamber ratings are out for state Legislators

If it's election season, it's ratings time. Special-interest groups assign ratings to Missouri legislators, based on whether the legislator sided with the group in key votes on priority bills. The rankings are used to steer political contributions to candidates and sway voters. The latest rankings come from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Read more: St Louis Today

Cities Align for Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce

The cities that make up the Quad Cities are aligning together for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. The commerce announced its new vision for the future, on Wednesday, August 6, 2014.
The chamber would like to bring people from both states together, in order to help one another out. Representatives from more than 140 different businesses and government agencies, in both Iowa and Illinois, attended the chamber breakfast Wednesday at the Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf.

Chamber Issue: Manufacturers' study: New EPA rules could cost Arkansas 10,000 jobs

A study released by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) on Thursday said the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new ozone standards could cause Arkansas to lose more than 10,000 jobs, pay more than $240 million in environmental compliance costs, and shut down most of the state’s coal-fired electric generation. Read more: The City Wire

Chamber Event: Iowa Lt. Gov. Reynolds recognizes Creston as certified Connected Community

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, city of Creston and Connect Iowa officials recognized the city of Creston as the fifth community to become a Certified Connected Community in the state and the 21st in the nation Tuesday.
More than 30 residents and community leaders attended the celebration event at the Creston Chamber of Commerce, where results of an assessment and details of the county’s new technology action plan were unveiled.Read more: Creston News Advertiser

Edmond businesses join chamber's locally owned program

The Edmond Chamber of Commerce has announced the first group of participants in its Edmond Locally Owned program. Edmond Locally Owned is a new program that seeks to create awareness in the community and encourage consumers to shop at locally owned businesses. Read more: Insurancenewsnet.com

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotations (Ongoing Education)

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. --- Henry Ford