Chamber issue: Interstate 41 in Wisconsin clears major Congressional hurdle; North Dakota Chamber lists its legislative priorities; Chamber initiative: Emerge West Michigan Launches Online Business Resources; Minnesota State Chamber president talks Bemidji skills gap: Shortage of trained workers statewide; A Scouter in Kansas City helps teens discover potential career paths; Chamber event: Winter Games Chili Cook Off forms available; Chamber issue: Local communities explore street drinking as economic development; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Improving Innovation by improving your local library)

Chamber issue: Interstate 41 in Wisconsin clears major Congressional hurdle

"The local chambers of commerce have all pretty well supported this," Petri said. "It just makes it easier for them to indicate to people around the country and world what kind of infrastructure they have. If it says U.S. Interstate, people know what that means."
Meanwhile, business and economic development leaders in communities along the highway said the conversion will help boost economic growth by increasing the opportunities for national operations that wouldn't otherwise consider locating there.
"It puts us on a different stature as it relates to communities across the country," said John Casper, president and CEO of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce. "A lot of businesses — industrial, commercial, retail — want to be on interstates. When firms are identifying places to locate (and) expand ... (the word) interstate communicates a certain standard." Read more: Sheboygan Press


North Dakota Chamber lists its legislative priorities

More tax relief for businesses, strengthening the state’s workforce and flood protection are among likely legislative priorities for the Greater North Dakota Chamber.
Andy Peterson, president and CEO of the Greater North Dakota Chamber, discussed the group’s upcoming legislative focus Thursday with state legislators and business leaders at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, which houses the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce.
North Dakota’s 2015 legislative session convenes Jan. 6. Gov. Jack Dalrymple delivered his 2015-17 executive budget on Dec. 3.
“We do like the governor’s budget for the most part,” Peterson said. “I think it’s a great start for the Legislature. We’ll see where it goes.” Read more: InForum.com

Chamber initiative: Emerge West Michigan Launches Online Business Resources

West Michigan is blessed with a wide variety of organizations and business working to assist entrepreneurs and the business community. Now, thanks to a regional collaboration led in part by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber, there is a new one-stop-shop online resource designed to make it easier to find and tap into the area’s strong network of support for business startup and growth.Launched in October 2014, the Emerge West Michigan website – www.emergewm.com – provides a central hub of regional information and business trends as well as a growing source for business events and workshops. Read more: Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce

Minnesota State Chamber president talks Bemidji skills gap: Shortage of trained workers statewide

Bemidji has a skills gap, and the shortage of trained workers is driving away businesses, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Interim President Bill Blazar said Friday.
Blazar spoke to a gathering of Bemidji Area Chamber members at the Hampton Inn as part of a statewide tour of local Chamber groups involved in the "Grow Minnesota" business development program.
Roughly 100 Bemidji businesses have been contacted by the program since its inception in 2003. Grow Minnesota interviews with local businesses over the past year indicated that of the 14 businesses that responded on the skills gap topic, eight companies said they had trouble finding qualified workers and six said they didn't have trouble, he said. Bemidji businesses named construction workers, executives, architects and engineers as some of the most difficult positions to fill, Blazar said. Read more: The Bemidji Pioneer

A Scouter in Kansas City helps teens discover potential career paths

By Mark Ray
Photographs by David Eulitt
From the January-February 2015 issue of Scouting magazine

Mentoring is job No. 1 for Lester McKinzy, Explorer Post 2967 advisor

In 2011, the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce unveiled the “Big 5,” a group of initiatives designed to create economic opportunity and establish a more vibrant Kansas City region. One of those initiatives sought to revitalize the inner city by, among other things, helping young people prepare for college and career.
That’s where Scouting came in. Exploring, a program of the BSA’s Learning for Life affiliate (exploring.learningforlife.org), is all about career exploration, so a partnership seemed a natural fit.
Terry Dunn, a key leader in the Urban Neighborhood Initiative, is a longtime member of the Heart of America Council’s executive board. Dunn’s company, JE Dunn Construction, pledged to create an Explorer post and tapped Lester McKinzy to help start it. The post officially launched in January 2013, and McKinzy took over as Advisor a little more than a year later.
A Kansas City native, McKinzy had never been involved in Scouting or Exploring, but he jumped at the chance to serve. “I had a burning passion to work with youth in the area of career development,” he says. “It ended up being a great fit.” Read more: Scouting Magazine

Chamber event: Winter Games Chili Cook Off forms available

Entry forms for the REMAX Lakes Realty Chili Cook Off are now available online at www.uofowintergames.com or in the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce office in Arnolds Park. This delicious event is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 at the Dickinson County Expo Building in Spirit Lake.
Chili Cook Off teams are asked to furnish at least 10 gallons of their special recipe chili, as well as warmers, ladles, extension cords and decorate their serving area. All members of the community are invited to participate, yet due to space constraints, the event limited to 42 teams.
And this year's theme? OUTER SPACE! Read more: Dickinson County News

Chamber issue: Local communities explore street drinking as economic development

Ohio’s cities that have watched their tax bases sag while hot destinations like Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tenn., lure young professionals with a vibrant nightlife are hoping to bring a little flavor of Mardi Gras to the Buckeye state.
A bill that passed the Ohio Senate 31-0 last week has officials in cities from Cleveland to Cincinnati dreaming about bringing more sauce — and tax dollars — to their entertainment corridors.
The bill could allow many cities and townships — including about 15 locally — to establish designated drinking areas where visitors can wander outside, drinks in hand, as if they are on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Some local officials, business groups and developers have embraced the idea of outdoor libations. They say the areas are intended to capitalize on changing consumer preferences, particularly among young people, and use a lively nightlife to promote economic development. Read more: Journal-News

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation:  (Improving Innovation by improving your local library)

A library is the delivery room for the birth of ideas, a place where history comes to life.' Norman Cousins

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea - Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future By Peter Thiel; Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce earns highest level of distinction; Iowa Great Lakes Chamber honors Tom Kuhlman at annual meeting; Subaru executive to lead Indiana chamber of commerce; Terry Dunn has ambitious plans as new KC Chamber chairman; Dearborn Chamber President Jackie Lovejoy appointed to Henry Ford College Foundation board of directors; Minnesota Chamber Sponsor: ‘North Star Summit: A Vision for Minnesota’ set for Dec. 8; Chamber issue: Olathe (Kansas) residents offer ideas to improve transportation; As Region Struggles to Fill Manufacturing Jobs, Northern Kentucky Leaders Form Coalition to Fix Problem; Byron Chamber Letter: What's at stake for energy in Illinois; Friday: 157 Rules for Executive Success in Organization Management (and your Chamber of Commerce) by Patrick McGaughey Rule #33

Chamber Executive Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea - Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future By Peter Thiel


If you want to build a better future, you must believe in secrets.
The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. In "Zero to One," legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel shows how we can find singular ways to create those new things.
Thiel begins with the contrarian premise that we live in an age of technological stagnation, even if we're too distracted by shiny mobile devices to notice. Information technology has improved rapidly, but there is no reason why progress should be limited to computers or Silicon Valley. Progress can be achieved in any industry or area of business. It comes from the most important skill that every leader must master: learning to think for yourself.
Doing what someone else already knows how to do takes the world from 1 to n, adding more of something familiar. But when you do something new, you go from 0 to 1. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won't make a search engine. Tomorrow's champions will not win by competing ruthlessly in today's marketplace. They will escape competition altogether, because their businesses will be unique.
"Zero to One" presents at once an optimistic view of the future of progress in America and a new way of thinking about innovation: it starts by learning to ask the questions that lead you to find value in unexpected places.Get more information here: Zero-to-One book

Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce earns highest level of distinction

At its November board meeting, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded 30 local chambers of commerce throughout the nation with Accreditation for their sound policies, effective organizational leadership, and positive impact on their communities. The only program of its kind in the country, U.S. Chamber Accreditation recognizes excellence in chamber planning and performance.
To become accredited, a chamber must demonstrate quality programs, clear organizational procedures, and effective communications by meeting minimum standards in its operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, and technology. Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber validates a chamber as having solid programs and as being a catalyst for positive action in the community. It is a prestigious honor that distinguishes the high quality, expertise, and strong leadership of an organization.
With this announcement, the Oshkosh Chamber was recognized with the highest level of distinction – the 5-Star Accreditation. This prestigious honor puts us among the top 1 percent of chambers nationwide. To put this in perspective, there are nearly 7,000 chambers of commerce in the US, among which only 213 currently remain accredited. Of this accredited group, only 89 chambers across the country have achieved this highest rating and only two in Wisconsin, the Oshkosh Chamber being one of the two. thenorthwestern.com

Iowa Great Lakes Chamber honors Tom Kuhlman at annual meeting

Tom Kuhlman served as Executive Director of the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce for 34 years.
The Queen II excursion boat circled West Lake Okoboji under his leadership. A historic amusement park was spared and a maritime museum was constructed during his tenure. He literally lights the fuse to start every Fourth of July fireworks display and the annual Walleye Weekend helps special needs children around the state.
But if you ask Kuhlman if there's anything he'd do differently after more than three decades, his answer is: "Maybe start sooner." The answer doesn't surprise Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Norm Johnson. He feels Kuhlman's leadership helped put Okoboji on the map as a premiere destination area.Read more: Dickinson County News

Subaru executive to lead Indiana chamber of commerce

Tom Easterday, Executive Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of Subaru of Indiana Automotive, was elected to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for 2015, during the Indiana Chamber’s Fall Board of Directors meeting held in Indianapolis on November 6th.
Easterday has been actively involved with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce for several years, having served as Vice Chairman, as a member of the Executive Committee, as Vice Chairman of the Energy Policy Committee and as a member of the Labor & Employment Policy Committee. He has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1999. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Indiana Business for Responsive Government, the Indiana Chamber’s political action committee.

Terry Dunn has ambitious plans as new KC Chamber chairman

Terry Dunn, new chairman of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, plans for you to hear the word “entrepreneurship” even more in the coming year.
He’s going to be talking about it a lot, and he expects you’ll hear it a lot more from other business and government leaders who’ll spend time and money to buff the metro area’s reputation as a good place — even a great place — to start and grow a business.
Among the true believers, Dunn looks to Cerner co-founder Cliff Illig, who is spearheading creation of a nonprofit organization dubbed EnterpriseKC. It’s an effort that intends to research the status and needs of the area’s existing entrepreneurs to help shape an inviting environment for others. Read more: Kansas City Star

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article4131340.html#storylink=cpy

Dearborn Chamber President Jackie Lovejoy appointed to Henry Ford College Foundation board of directors

The Henry Ford College Foundation board of directors appointed two new members for three-year terms beginning Dec. 11. The appointees are Jacqueline Lovejoy of Beverly Hills and Abe Munfakh of Plymouth.

“We are very honored to have these two gifted individuals join the foundation board of directors,” said A. Reginald Best, vice president of development. “They bring a very unique perspective and years of experience that will – no doubt – benefit the foundation and the college as a whole in the long run.”

Lovejoy is the president of the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to her appointment at the chamber, she worked at Davenport University in Dearborn for 15 years. Read more: Press & Guide


Minnesota Chamber Sponsor: ‘North Star Summit: A Vision for Minnesota’ set for Dec. 8

Stakeholders representing the private and public sectors will convene Dec. 8 to identify common goals for Minnesota’s higher education system to meet the state’s looming workforce needs.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is among the sponsors of “The North Star Summit: Mapping Economic Prosperity for Minnesota.”
The event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.-noon Dec. 8 at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. It is open to the public. For details and to register, go to http://mnbiz.cc/1xY5zSl .
“Our membership has been telling us for years that it is a challenge to find qualified workers in many industries. Add to that the fact that our labor force in Minnesota will not grow much these next 15 years,” said Sarah Radosevich, policy research analyst at the Minnesota Chamber. “The result is that Minnesota really needs every potential worker – young and old – to know what the job opportunities are and to be able to access the education or training necessary to fill those roles. Employers have to play a key role in this, but all the stakeholders are at the table.” Read more: HometownSource.com

Chamber issue: Olathe (Kansas) residents offer ideas to improve transportation

After nearly a decade, Olathe is updating its transportation master plan.
The city’s massive growth over recent years has prompted the city to take a harder look at its transportation network, which includes routes for cars, buses, bikes, walkers and freight. The city’s population was 113,000 in 2004 and is about 130,000 today.
To kick-start the process, city staff held a public meeting recently at the Olathe Community Center. Read more: Kansas City Star

As Region Struggles to Fill Manufacturing Jobs, Northern Kentucky Leaders Form Coalition to Fix Problem

There are jobs available in the region -- jobs that pay very well -- but employers are having a hard time finding the workers they need to fill the positions.
If Northern Kentucky hopes to produce the skilled workforce necessary to retain the advanced manufacturers who operate here, something has to be done and on Tuesday, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President Trey Grayson announced a new effort, saying the partners of a new coalition bring diverse experiences, expertise, and relationships to the unified effort.

“My hope is that by getting all of these partners on board through a ‘collective impact’ approach, we are very publicly pledging to address and solve this problem,” Grayson said. Read more: River City News

Byron Chamber Letter: What's at stake for energy in Illinois

Over the past year we have heard rumblings about the future of the Byron Nuclear Generating Station. It is feared that a range of policies and regulations are creating a scenario where the plant cannot operate profitably and could be permanently closed.
A new study released by the Nuclear Energy Institute (nei.org) shows us just what is at stake.
The study shows that nuclear power in Illinois brings billions of dollars in positive economic impact and generates 48 percent of our electricity reliably and without producing carbon pollution. To keep businesses running and to meet new federal requirements for lowering emissions, we need a strong nuclear energy sector in Illinois. Read more: Rockford Register Star



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

RULE #33 - Research every board member and active volunteer on line.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/joco-913/olathe-southwest-joco/article4152973.html#storylink=cpy

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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