Biloxi Chamber Support: 'Katrina +10' Opens to Public Friday Morning; Southwest Indiana Chamber Named Chamber of the Year; Alexandria Chamber Hosts Legislative Breakfast; Dubuque Chamber Young Entrepreneurs to Obtain Funding to Launch Enterprises; Heber Springs (Arkansas) Chamber Springfest adds concerts to weekend; Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce Event: Chamber 101- Maximizing your chamber membership; Lexington Commerce sponsorship: University of Kentucky Venture Challenge competition encourages entrepreneurs; Galesburg Area Chamber Presents $500.00 Check to Knox Prairie Community Kitchen; Chippewa Falls (Wisconsin) Area Chamber Economic Development; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

Good morning Chamber world! Today is going to be a GREAT day!

Biloxi Chamber Support: 'Katrina +10' Opens to Public Friday Morning

The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art will launch "Katrina +10," the largest Hurricane Katrina exhibit in the Southeast, on Friday morning at 10 a.m.

"Katrina +10" will be a six-month retrospective about Hurricane Katrina and will feature the award-winning efforts of the Sun Herald, WLOX, Mississippi Department of Transportation, Hands On Mississippi, and Mississippi Power, the company that brought in 12,000 workers from across the country to restore electricity to its south Mississippi customers within 12 days after the storm.

The multi-media exhibit, sponsored by Hancock Bank, will be open daily and will feature nearly 50 special events over six months, including luncheons with community leaders from across South Mississippi, panel discussions, community projects, and evening conversations with such key figures as former Gov. Haley Barbour, former Sen. Trent Lott, and award-winning journalist Kathleen Koch, a Bay St. Louis native and former CNN correspondent.

On opening day, the museum will also launch its Hancock Bank Katrina Cafe series with WLOX Meterologist Carrie Duncan, whose lunchtime presentation, "The Birth of Katrina," will trace the origins of the monster storm until it made landfall on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Each Friday, the museum will present community speakers in a luncheon forum, for $10, which includes lunch and entrance to the exhibits.

On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., "Katrina +10" will be free to the public, suspending the normally $10 adult admission ($5 for children). Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art founder Jerry O'Keefe, a former Biloxi mayor, will lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m., flanked by sponsors and Coast mayors.

The exhibit will re-open on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
"Katrina +10" has been months in the making, and will encompass all five acres of the east Biloxi waterfront Ohr campus. The exhibit is also being supported by Biloxi Regional Medical Center, Walmart, C Spire, and the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce. Read more: WXXV 25 TV

Southwest Indiana Chamber Named Chamber of the Year

The Southwest Indiana Chamber today announced it has been named 2015 Indiana Chamber of the Year.
The Chamber of the Year award is presented annually by Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA) to a chamber of commerce in Indiana that has demonstrated exceptional performance in four categories: leadership and governance; finance; advocacy; and programming and membership.
A panel of judges from outside the state reviews award applications then selects the year’s finalists and the top chamber of commerce. To be considered for the award, a chamber of commerce must submit a detailed application that includes 10 essays and dozens of work examples, such as the organization’s strategic plan and press clippings.
The Southwest Indiana Chamber launched new initiatives in 2014, which helped the organization earn its Chamber of the Year recognition, according to Indiana Chamber Executives Association President Shelli Williams. “The Chamber is focused on its members’ needs and has seized opportunities to serve the Southwest Indiana region with new initiatives like its Downtown Alliance, Diverse Business Alliance, and Nonprofit Alliance.”
Other achievements cited in the award application submitted by the Southwest Indiana Chamber include: a net gain of 359 members in 2014 and an improvement in ranks from third-largest to second-largest chamber of commerce in Indiana; the launch of the new Southwest Indiana Chamber brand, new website, and new fully-integrated membership database; the launch of the organization’s Diverse Business Alliance, Nonprofit Alliance, Restaurant Alliance, and Downtown Alliance; the success of the Chamber-led restaurant competition called “Evansville’s Main Course Restaurant Challenge”; and improved financial performance led by an increase in sponsorship and event-generated revenue.
“When it comes to serving our members, we’ve set the bar high,” Southwest Indiana Chamber board of directors Chairman Jeff Mulzer said. “This award recognizes the organization’s dedicated, passionate, and enthusiastic volunteers, board of directors, and staff. As we celebrate a century of supporting the business community, we can add this significant milestone to our Chamber’s history and continue our commitment to commerce.” Read more: Southwest Indiana Chamber

Alexandria Chamber Hosts Legislative Breakfast

Officials discuss top state, local issues.

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce hosted members of City Council and the Virginia General Assembly at its annual Legislative Breakfast March 10 at the Hotel Monaco.

#City representatives participating in the event, which was presented by Dominion Power, were Mayor Bill Euille, Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg and council members John Chapman, Del Pepper, Paul Smedberg and Justin Wilson. Virginia state senators George Barker, Adam Ebbin and Del. Charniele Herring were also in attendance.

#The state delegation discussed the recently concluded General Assembly session, with each representative highlighting what they consider the most significant results from that session. High on each of their lists was workforce development and its impact on the Northern Virginia region. Read more: Connection Newspapers

Dubuque Chamber Young Entrepreneurs to Obtain Funding to Launch Enterprises

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PITCH TO LOCAL INVESTORS

On Wednesday, March 25, 6PM at the Holiday Inn Dubuque, student entrepreneurs will take the stage to present their business plans before a panel of local industry leaders and a public audience. The students are dressed as young professionals, and are ready to wow the crowd!

Seven students in grades 6 through 12, representing 7 businesses and social movements from the Dubuque Chamber Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) will have six minutes to pitch their business plans to prominent business community members, during the program’s annual YEA! Investor Panel Event (think Shark Tank meets The Apprentice meets American Idol!). Based on the appeal and merit of the students’ plans and presentations, business representatives will determine the amount of funds to allocate to each business or social movement.

The participating investors will also select the one business group that will advance to the YEA! Saunders Scholars National College Scholarship competition where they will compete for hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships, a fast-track application pass to apply to be on ABC’s Shark Tank, and an all-expenses paid trip to attend America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, DC courtesy of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Event is free and open to the public.  Interviews with young entrepreneurs or members of the judging panel can be arranged. The emcee for the evening will be Scott Meyer, Marketing Coordinator of Townsquare Media of Dubuque.

     

The Investor Panel will be comprised of prominent local business people, including:

ü  Jonathan Miller of IntegrUS Credit Union

ü  Carole Shutts of Holiday Inn Dubuque

ü  Tom Wiedmayer of Mystique Casino

ü  Bob Peacock of American Trust & Savings Bank

ü  Chad Chandlee of Kendall Hunt Publishing

ü  Jake Schneider of Cartegraph

ü  Jason Norton of DuTrac Community Credit Union

ü  Wendy Runde of Diamond Jo Casino

ü  Allison Proctor of Sam’s Club

ü  Dan Buchenau of Prudential

For more information, contact Melissa Palfrey at the Dubuque Chamber at 563.557.9200 

Heber Springs (Arkansas) Chamber Springfest adds concerts to weekend

Springfest, one of three big events sponsored by the Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, just got bigger.
Julie Murray, executive director of the chamber, said two country-music concerts by Nashville-based recording artists have been scheduled for the April 24-25 weekend.
“This is a huge addition to Springfest,” Murray said. “We’re excited about it.”
Other Springfest activities will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in Spring Park.
Murray said the new Red River Ram Springfest Concert Series will host Kacey Smith, a female singer/songwriter, from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday and Shelby Lee Lowe, a male singer/songwriter, from 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday. Both artists will perform in the amphitheater in Spring Park. Read more: Arkansas Online

 

Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce Event: Chamber 101- Maximizing your chamber membership

 


 Chamber 101- Maximizing your chamber membership

Date: March 24, 2015 --- Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

Whether you're new to our Chamber, or you've been a member for years, Chamber 101 is designed to help businesses maximize their memberships! Learn about all the membership benefits, our various events, how to set-up a mini-page on www.cornerstonechamber.com, how to utilize Save Local Now and more! The event is FREE, but registration is required and limited to the first 15 members. Feel free to bring your lunch!

Website: http://business.cornerstonechamber.com/events/details/chamber-101-maximizing-your-chamber-membership-542  Registration: Register Now

Commerce Lexington sponsorship: University of Kentucky Venture Challenge competition encourages entrepreneurs

It takes more than a good idea to create a successful business. But the best way for an entrepreneur to start is to make his or her idea as good as it can be.
That is the focus of the University of Kentucky's Venture Challenge, a competition for student entrepreneurs. The fourth annual challenge was held Saturday morning at the William T. Young Library auditorium.
Ten teams pitched business ideas to a panel of three judges, who chose three winners to share $3,000 in scholarship prizes. The first- and second-place finishers advanced to regional and state competitions sponsored by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.
"It's a great exercise, because learning how to develop ideas is so important," said Randall Stevens, a Lexington technology entrepreneur who was one of the judges.Read more: Kentucky.com


Galesburg Area Chamber Presents $500.00 Check to Knox Prairie Community Kitchen

Galesburg, IL (March 11, 2015) – The Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce presented a check for $500.00 this morning to representatives of the Knox Prairie Community Kitchen.

The money was raised from a raffle held at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner on February 26^th. The Quad Cities River Bandits donated a luxury suite for use on Opening Day April 12^th, and was valued at $300.00. Tickets were sold at the Annual Dinner, and the final amount collected was $500.00.

“On behalf of the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Quad Cities River Bandits, we are pleased to present the Knox Prairie Community Kitchen with a check for $500.00,” said Executive Director Steven Brody.

Those representing the Knox Prairie Community Kitchen included Diana Mackin, Odette Jackson, Jessi Taylor, Peter Schwartzman, and Jim Eastwood. More information: Steven N. Brody, Executive Director 309-343-1194 or sbrody@galesburg.org

 

Chippewa Falls (Wisconsin) Area Chamber Economic Development

Build your Business and Work Where you Want to Live

Chippewa Falls is a pro-business, friendly, safe and beautiful city, attractive to families with children, senior citizens and tourists. Chippewa Falls is the County seat of Chippewa County, with a population of over 62,000. Chippewa Falls is the largest city within Chippewa County and has over 13,000 residents that benefit from a diversified economy that successfully blends tourism, retail, agriculture and industry. The city operates under a mayor-council format form of government and elected officials serve terms of two years.
Chippewa Falls’ proximity to transportation, its highly trained technically savvy workforce, and it’s beautiful setting made Chippewa Falls home to many large employers. Among the city’s major employers are TTM Technologies, SGI Inc., Cray Inc., Extrusion Dies Co., ITW Deltar, Great Northern Corp., Mason Companies, Leinenkugel Brewery, and Spectrum Industries Inc. The demographics for Chippewa County show how successful our county is.  Request a Business Relocation Packet

  



Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

RULE #68      Bill renewing members and sponsors when they are ‘flush’

Entrepreneur Larry Hines brings experience, low-key approach to chair position with Muskegon Chamber; Indiana Chamber endorses Pence's education plan; Best Chamber Practices: Heber Springs named Volunteer Community of the Year; Jackson County Board Member Jim McIngvale named to MGCCC Board of Trustees; Chamber Award: Fort Atkinson’s Wisconsin Packaging Corp. feted; Barrington-area chamber sends good vibrations at gala; Hundreds Come Out In Support of Fort Eustis Personnel, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Reports; Ryan Craig new face of Logan County Chamber;

Entrepreneur Larry Hines brings experience, low-key approach to chair position with Muskegon Chamber

Larry Hines knows a thing or two about running a successful operation.
Hines, the president and founder of Hines Corporation, a holding company which owns industrial manufacturers in Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota, was recently named board chair of the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.
It's a position chamber leadership has wanted him to hold for a long time, but as far as Hines is concerned, he won't have to do much.
"The chamber is a very well-structured and organized chamber," he said. "So in that regard, I don't have to bring much to the party. It's been in place for 123 years so it's a very well-established organization. They've been doing a lot of things that need to be done for a long time." M LIVE

Indiana Chamber endorses Pence's education plan

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce doesn't usually consider endorsing a proposed legislative agenda, focusing instead on individual bills filed by legislators. However, because of the vital role education plays in Indiana's future, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee recently voted to endorse Gov. Mike Pence's education agenda for the 2015 legislative session.
The agenda represents an important step toward increasing the focus of Indiana's K-12 education system on our state's young people and allowing them to prosper through high-performing teachers and schools.
Several of the governor's proposals clearly put Hoosier students first, including raising the base funding per pupil, developing a better approach to turning around failing schools, expanding performance-based funding and lifting the dollar cap for school choice. Read more: IndyStar.com


Best Chamber Practices: Heber Springs named Volunteer Community of the Year

As many times as Heber Springs has been named Volunteer Community of the Year — more than a dozen — it never gets old, said Ina Brown, special projects manager for the Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.
The award was presented by Gov. Asa Hutchinson at a luncheon on Jan. 15, during an Arkansas Municipal League Conference at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
“It’s all so much fun. It was presented by the governor — I shook the governor’s hand twice,” Brown said with a laugh.
She said Heber Springs has received the honor, “15 or 16 times,” but not consecutively. The Arkansas Volunteer Community Awards are sponsored by the Governor’s Office, the Arkansas Municipal League and the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support. Read more: Arkansas Online

Jackson County Board Member Jim McIngvale named to MGCCC Board of Trustees

James W. "Jim" McIngvale, of Pascagoula, has been named to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Board of Trustees.
McIngvale takes the place of retired board member Jim Epting and will represent Jackson County.
Currently the director of Government and Community Affairs at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, McIngvale has worked with the shipbuilder for 38 years.
He began his career in the public relations department of Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding in 1977. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi in 1976, majoring in political science and journalism. Read more: GulfLive

Chamber Award: Fort Atkinson’s Wisconsin Packaging Corp. feted

A company that thinks outside — and inside — the box was recognized Wednesday by the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce.
Gathering at the Fireside Dinner Theatre for its 116th annual dinner meeting Wednesday, the chamber presented its Economic Contribution Award to Wisconsin Packaging Corp. and its president, Fred Negus Jr.
The honor is given to an individual, business or organization that has contributed to, and promoted the objectives of, the chamber in support of the community.
“This award was created in 1973, and is regarded as the chamber’s most prestigious recognition,” said 2015 chamber President Jeff Theder. “Past recipients include some of our largest employers who have positively impacted job creation, and individuals who have had a vision of growing their own companies, as well as our business community, overall.” Read more: Daily Union

Barrington-area chamber sends good vibrations at gala

More than 200 business and community members gathered Thursday night for the second annual Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Gala and Silent Auction.

The theme of the event, held at the Stonegate Conference & Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates, was "good vibrations," which Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Corr said reflected one of the chamber's missions, to give send good vibrations into the local business community.

"One of the most powerful thing the chamber does is it connect people," Corr said.

"Every event is about providing members with the opportunity to make positive business relationships."

The Business Excellence Award went to Norton USA of Barrington. Dennis Kelly of FGMK Insurance won the Volunteer of the Year Award. The chamber's Rookie of the Year Award went to Jason Tennyson of Liberty Mutual. Charlotte Neault of Barrington Bank & Trust, who has served as the chamber's chairman of the board, won the BACC Leadership Award.

A new honor, called the Young Entrepreneur Awards, went to the Barrington High School students who formed a company called FMB Technology as part of their business incubator class. Read more: Daily Herald

Hundreds Come Out In Support of Fort Eustis Personnel, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Reports

The Fort Eustis community listening session held this month drew nearly 330 members from the community, including 80 who viewed live-streaming and business and civic leaders, elected officials, small business owners, association leaders, and educators. Their presence alone sent a message they are concerned about the potential 4,100 personnel cuts that could happen at Fort Eustis as part of the U.S. Armys budget reductions across the country.
Hampton Roads is a pleasant place to live, with a superb quality of life, a moderate cost of living, a temperate climate and arguably the worlds finest ice-free, deep water port year round, said retired Navy Rear Adm. Craig Quigley of the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance. Quigley was among roughly one dozen who addressed the group. It is 200 miles from our nations capital. It has superb academic facilities at every level, and most importantly, a patriotic and dedicated workforce. Not only should the Army consider maintaining the status quo here, this is where reallocated unites should be brought. Thats my message to take back to Army leadership. Read more: ITBusiness.net

Ryan Craig new face of Logan County Chamber

Ryan Craig is the new face of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce. Craig will be replacing long-serving director Lisa Browning, who resigned her position after 24 years with the Chamber, taking a job with the WRUS Radio station.
“I am excited about the opportunity to work with the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, its members and the community, and to continue the fine tradition and purpose the Chamber holds,” said Craig.
Craig is the owner and publisher of the Todd County Standard in Elkton. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in both public relations and history. He is a former reporter for the News-Democrat & Leader, as well as a copy desk chief of the Kentucky New Era in Hopkinsville and page one designer for the Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, Tenn. Read more: NewsDemocratLeader.com

Chamber chiefs: Detroit’s brand, health matter to all of Michigan; Chambers Creating Opportunity: New York’s High Line Fuels Wave of Urban Renewal Projects; Chamber energy: North Dakota's $4bn petrochemical plant should help reduce natural gas flaring; Heber Springs AR Chamber introduces leadership program; Chamber Tweet of the Day: Minneapolis Chamber - Awesome Photos; Chamber Executive Jennifer Daly named new CEO of Central Illinois Economic Development Council; Register Today! Fall National SBIR/STTR Conference in Austin, Texas (November 11-13); Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey - RULE #20

Chamber chiefs: Detroit’s brand, health matter to all of Michigan

Detroit matters.
Communities must work together.
And voters electing business-friendly leaders has helped improve the economy in Michigan.
Those were three messages Rich Studley, president and CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, hammered home to roughly 80 people attending the inaugural First Tuesday Power Lunch at Oak Pointe Country Club in Genoa Township. The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event, and DTE Energy was the major sponsor. Read more: Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Chambers Creating Opportunity: New York’s High Line Fuels Wave of Urban Renewal Projects

When a handful of residents of Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood banded together in 1999 to prevent the demolition of an abandoned elevated railway that hadn’t been used in two decades, a largely apathetic local government responded with muted skepticism. That group, however, turned out to be Friends of the High Line, the organization responsible for creating one of New York City’s most visited neighborhood attractions that has already spawned a number of similar urban renewal projects across the U.S.
Stretching from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, the High Line runs through Chelsea near the Hudson River on Manhattan’s far west side. Since its first section opened in 2009, the High Line has won prestigious architecture and design awards and drawn an ever-growing number of New Yorkers and tourists alike, with nearly 5 million people visiting the elevated park in 2013, according to The New York Times.  Read more: Free Enterprise


Chamber energy: North Dakota's $4bn petrochemical plant should help reduce natural gas flaring

“When the field first started going, there was a lack of gathering systems and we did a lot of flaring, and that’s not abnormal for immature fields,” Andy Peterson, president of the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, told me on Wednesday. “What is normal is that you start capturing some of the stuff and using everything. That’s what industry wants – they want to use every little bit of the raw product that they can.” Read more: Star-Tribune

Heber Springs AR Chamber introduces leadership program

Director Julie Murray made a big announcement regarding a new leadership program at the Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon on Wednesday. She, along with ASU-Heber Springs Vice Chancellor Dr. Chris Boyett presented members with details of the new program called Leadership Heber Springs,“This effort began with a combination of my predecessor, Melisa Gardner, and Chamber Board President Jayson Jones,” said Murray.  “Any major city or town you look at has this program, which is usually sponsored by the Chamber or the local university.” Read more:The Sun-Times

Chamber Tweet of the Day: Minneapolis Chamber - Awesome Photos

Minneapolis Chamber ‏@MplsChamber 10m10 minutes ago

View some awesome photos from our #GMMpls event at @SEVENMPLS last month! Photos by @ARCphotography_ https://www.flickr.com/photos/mplschamber/sets/72157648407327660/ …

View details

Chamber Executive Jennifer Daly named new CEO of Central Illinois Economic Development Council

Jennifer Daly will start her new job as CEO of the Economic Development Council of Central Illinois on Nov. 3. It may take two people to replace her in Morton. Daly, 42, has spent the past six years as CEO of the Morton Economic Development Council and executive director of the Morton Chamber of Commerce. Her last day in those positions is Oct. 31. The organizations have launched separate searches for replacements. The two hiring committees are meeting regularly to compare notes.

“All options are on the table,” said chamber board President Bill Aupperle. “There’s no timeline for hiring someone for the chamber. Having (chamber Program Director) Tammy Stephens around buys us some time. It’s more important that we find the right person.” Read more: Pekin Times

 

Chamber Technology Small Business: Register Today! Fall National SBIR/STTR Conference in Austin, Texas (November 11-13)

Attention technology entrepreneurs: the Fall National SBIR/STTR Conference (NSC) will take place November 11 - 13 at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center (U. Of Texas) in Austin, TX.  At this conference, attendees will learn from senior SBIR/STTR leaders and successful small businesses how to compete for SBIR/STTR funding in two dozen federal agencies. To see the event homepage, go to www.defenseenergy.com/National_SBIR_Conference_Fall.html

The Fall NSC - held alongside the annual Defense Energy Summit and Smart Cities Innovation Challenge -- will be a busy marketplace for SBIR/STTR Agencies, industry leaders, veteran SBIR/STTR awardees, state support networks, and aspiring entrepreneurs, with emphasis on opening the SBIR/STTR pipeline to newcomers.  Highlights include:

• 1-on-1 meetings with 20+ SBIR/STTR Agencies
• 20+ panel sessions featuring  Agencies, successful small firms, Industry partners, and SBIR/STTR experts from state and private sectors
• Pre-event courses on must-know business basics for SBIR/STTR pursuit
• Abundant networking opportunities
• Exhibit Hall featuring SBIR/STTR Agency Pavilion, Fortune 1000 firms, universities, and SBIR/STTR-funded businesses

Discounted "early bird" registration ends September 16th. Register online at your earliest convenience at www.defenseenergy.com/register.html.  The AT&T Center is also offering discounted room rates for SBIR/STTR Conference attendees; to book online, visit www.defenseenergy.com/about/venue.html. More Info SBA.gov

Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey

RULE #20       Make a profit plan, not a budget