A Letter from Kim Urbanowski, Executive Director, Orion Area Chamber
I'm writing today to let you know that I am resigning my position as Executive Director of the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce.
The last three and a
half years at the OACC have been an exciting time of growth, not only in
building business but in building the community as a whole. I am
proud to have played a role in helping make Orion one of the most treasured
places to live, work and play in Oakland County.
It has been deeply
gratifying to work collaboratively with chamber members, community leaders and
volunteers while representing the OACC. Even though I will be
leaving this position, I will not be leaving the community that I have grown to
love, merely participating in a different capacity.
I want to thank the
Board of Directors, past and present, for your leadership and dedication.
Jillian and Noelle, I couldn't ask for a better team of stellar human beings to
work with on a daily basis!
More information
about the position will be made available soon.
Thank you for the
opportunity, the experience and most of all the friendships. It has
been a pleasure working with you all.
Most Sincerely,
Kim Urbanowski#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotations: (Be happy!) :)
"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor." - Charles Dickens
Arlington Heights Membership Chamber of Commerce 2019-2020 Insider's Guide To Arlington Heights Guide
The Arlington Heights Membership Chamber of Commerce 2019-2020 Insider's Guide To Arlington Heights Guide is available at the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce today! Thank you to Jon Ridler, Mindy Philips and the Chamber team for their help and direction putting this together!
#BestChamber practices: Kernersville Chamber - Bring out the vote! - Record the Event on Video!
Vote in Kernersville on Tuesday, November 5
Candidates for Mayor:
Dawn Morgan (incumbent)
Chris Federico
Irving Neal
Candidates for Aldermen:
Joe Pinnix (incumbent)
Bruce Boyer (incumbent)
Jenny Fulton (incumbent)
Kenny Crews (incumbent)
Chris Thompson (incumbent)
If you missed the Mayoral Candidates Forum on October 15, you may watch the video by clicking on this link: https://www.kernersvillenc.com/mayoral-candidates-forum
New Richmond Chamber Event: 2019 Hometown Holiday
Greetings Chamber Members!
We are excited to be knee deep in the 2019 Hometown Holiday preparations and looking forward to another fantastic celebration. In its first two years, New Richmond’s Hometown Holiday Celebration was a HUGE success with an estimated attendance of over 3000 people each year. With the support of our membership, we think year three will be even better! December 5th might seem far away, but some planning needs to happen now. Here’s what you need to know…
This event is a great opportunity to promote our Chamber members and bring the community together during the holiday season. The highlight of this event will once again be the Holiday Lights Parade, a Tree Lighting Ceremony in Glover Park with live music followed by Fireworks over the Mill Pond.
There are opportunities to sponsor this event if you are looking to gain some visibility and help ensure a successful event! Sponsors allow this event to be completely FREE for attendees and provide great, family-friendly activities. The list of ways to support is attached. This is truly a marketing opportunity that also improves our community - what a win!
All Chamber businesses can once again participate in our “Countdown to Christmas” flyer. We will begin distributing those on Halloween, so please submit special events and promotions that you will be having to celebrate the holiday season for inclusion in that flyer by October 15th.
Back in 2019 is a Hometown Holiday Map – let us know what your business or organization is doing on December 5th and we will add you to the map. Need ideas of what to offer? Give us a call, we are full of ideas!
We have invited Santa Claus to our Hometown Holidays Celebration and he has once again agreed to visit! We ask that he be the ONLY Santa in town that evening as to not confuse kids attending the festivities. Thank you in advance for celebrating the Holiday Season with us!
Rob Kreibich, Executive Director
Michelle Scanlan, Event Planner & Membership Coordinator
What a GREAT deal! Get your members with less than 10 employees a FREE Kentucky Chamber Associate Membership
The Kentucky Chamber offers associate memberships for FREE to businesses with LESS THAN 10 employees. Gather a list and send to Amy Cloud at acloud@kychamber.com . List should include company name, contact name and email.
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Don't miss this opportunity to promote your member businesses to new residents ON A MONTHLY BASIS, ALL YEAR LONG!
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Palatine Area Chamber WELCOME HOME
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Harrisonburg Van Pool Fills Void for Employees Needing a Ride to Work
Gubsa Tomelso drove old, 25-person buses back in his native Ethiopia for years.
So he had no qualms when he began driving his George's Inc. coworkers to the plant for their second shift in a 14-person 2019 Ford Transit van.
"It's easy — no problem," said Tomelso , 41, of Harrisonburg.
Six months ago, George's Inc., which has a poultry plant in Harrisonburg, leased five vans for workers to form car pools.
"We started right off with five vans, and every one of them was pretty vacant for the first four weeks," said Quentin Custer, the human resources manager of George's Inc. in Harrisonburg. "We considered them rolling billboards at first."
But ridership began to grow steadily, and now roughly 60 to 70 workers use the vans every day, Custer said.
Now, Tomelso said he usually picks up about 10 passengers on the way to work, and he takes 13 of his fellow workers back to their respective homes.
Riders in the van said they found the service helpful for getting to work.
Brian Lopez, a George's worker, used to walk 35 minutes to the plant before the van pool was introduced.
Lopez said he signed up for the van pool as soon as he found out about it.
Frank Tamberrino, the president and CEO of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, said transportation is regularly cited as an issue employers face in finding workers.
"People are trying to get a bit more creative than maybe they were five to 10 years ago in trying to expand the labor pool and making it easier for employees to have access to jobs," he said.
Labor was not the sole driver for the program, though it did play a role in setting it up, Custer said.
George's doesn't have a high turnover rate, he said, adding that the plant celebrated both a 30-year and 40-year anniversary of workers in the last two weeks.
The average turnover in the poultry industry is 65%, according to a 2018 survey of 40 poultry plants around the country conducted by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
"People think there's not enough workers, but the truth is you treat people well enough, there are," Custer said. Read more: U.S. News and World Report
Marion Chamber: Member eblast - Happy 150th Birthday SIU Roadshow!
Come out to the Miners Stadium Diamond Club on Nov 7th.
Chancellor John M. Dunn invites you to CELEBRATE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY'S 150TH BIRTHDAY.
Catch up on exciting campus developments, meet alumni and friends, and commemorate 150 years of Saluki tradition, pride, and promise. John Jackson of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute will be signing copies of the book, "Southern Illinois University at 150 Years: Growth, Accomplishments, and Challenges."
Enjoy conversations, appetizers, and beverages.
Business casual dress
Register by Oct. 31 here or by calling the SIU Alumni Association office at (618) 435-2408.
6 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, November 7
Miners Stadium Diamond Club
Rent One Park
1000 Miners Drive
Marion, Illinois
Space will be limited.
Latest Leadership Daviess County class now forming
Just over a year ago, members of the fourth class of Leadership Daviess County graduated from the nine-month long program that focuses on fostering a sense of community while identifying the needs of the county as a whole. Under the direction of Cindy Barber, Purdue Extension Daviess County’s community development educator, over 60 individuals have dedicated time to the program over the course of the last few years.
Now, after taking a year off, the program is looking for its next generation of leaders.
“This is a passion of mine,” said Barber who said there are four goals of the leadership program. “Our goals were to expand the leadership base of people who will assume active roles in the community; establish strong community networks among participants and community leaders; encourage community volunteerism and service and create a network of people to share creative ideas and promote community action.”
Barber said the program, which officially begins with a mandatory overnight retreat Oct. 24 and 25 at Camp Illiana, will meet on the third Thursday of each month through June of 2020.
“The monthly sessions last all day, from 8 a.m. until around 4 p.m.,” said Barber. “And participants are only allowed to miss one session. Each session focuses on a different topic. Those sessions take place around the county and we bring in a variety of guest speakers as well.”
Topics covered during the classes include getting to know Daviess County, identifying leadership style, leading through interpersonal communication, exploring diversity in Daviess County, managing conflict, getting involved in the county, serving on non-profit boards, exploring economic development in Daviess County, exploring education in the county, learning how local government works, building a healthy community and more. A visit to the Indiana Statehouse is also in the works.
Daviess County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Executive Director and Leadership Daviess County graduate Samantha Bobbitt said the programs will open the eyes of even lifelong residents.
“I feel like we have created a family of leaders in the community that have a common goal,” said Bobbitt. “I’ve learned so much about this that I’ve grown up in and now I have a team of people that I know I can count on. It’s been one of the most exciting opportunities of my life.”
Tim Emmons, who works for the city of Washington, said the program not only opened his eyes to needs of the community but also gave him a boost of confidence.
“I’ve met many great people through Leadership Daviess County and thank all involved for the work they are doing through the program to make Daviess County an awesome place to call home,” said Emmons.
Like Bobbitt, Sara Norfolk from Perdue Farms is a Daviess County native. It was the networking that Norfolk said she enjoyed most about the leadership program. Read more: Washington Times Herald
First lady Deborah Bryant makes farewell tour stop in Gulfport
Deborah Bryant is making her farewell tour as her reign as first lady of Mississippi is coming to a close.
On Friday, she was the guest speaker at the Women Educating Enriching & Engaging event at the Knight Nonprofit Center in Gulfport.
Everywhere she goes, Bryant seems at home, and there’s always a hug for someone.
This kind of public exposure isn’t a natural fit.
“It was very intimidating,” she said. “I’m not an out-there kind of person. I love people, though, and that works really well. You know, when you love people, that makes life a whole lot better. I don’t like spotlight, and I think that was the hardest thing for me. I hate it."
Friday’s event organized by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce attracted about 75 people to network.
“We thought that she’d just be somebody that the community really wanted to talk to,” said Katie Weldon with the chamber. “Because, you know, it’s her last year. We really wanted to understand what she’s been through the past eight years and what she’s looking forward to.” Read more: WLOX
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